James Lomenzo

Tue
11
Nov

Michael Sweet & George Lynch Team Up For New Supergroup SWEET & LYNCH

Artist: 
Friday, January 23, 2015
Categories: 
News Feed

MICHAEL SWEET AND GEORGE LYNCH TEAM UP FOR NEW SUPERGROUP SWEET & LYNCH
 
Debut Album Only To Rise Slated for Release in January
via Frontiers Music SRL
 
Exclusive Pre-Order Available via PledgeMusic at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/sweetlynch
 
Two of hard rock’s most notable figures have partnered up for a new project. Iconic vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet of Stryper and legendary guitarist George Lynch of Lynch Mob/Dokken have teamed up to form a new supergroup Sweet & Lynch. Joining them on this new musical adventure is bassist James Lomenzo and drummer Brian Tichy. The band will be releasing their debut album Only To Rise on January 23rd 2015 in Europe and January 27th, 2015 in North America via Frontiers Music Srl. Sweet & Lynch recently launched a pre-order for the new album via PledgeMusic. The pre-order features various bundle packages for fans and is live at:
 
"When I was approached to help put together an all-star lineup, instantly I thought of George Lynch,” explains Michael Sweet. “George is one of the most talented guitarists out there and a ‘bucket list’ player for me. George wrote riffs/basic ideas and I wrote melodies, lyrics and arranged and completed the songs. I knew that we would compliment each other's style. When you add the amazing rhythm section of Brian Tichy and James Lomenzo, you just can't go wrong with this line-up. It really is a special project and I'm honored to be a part of it!"
 
From the opening notes of “The Wish” to the drum solo finish on the album-closer “Only To Rise,” it is evident that this musical partnership between Michael Sweet’s unmistakable voice and George Lynch’s signature guitar tone has yielded incredible results. Songs “Like A Dying Rose,” “Me Without You” and “Strength In Numbers” showcase the diversity that permeates throughout the entire album. Sweet & Lynch released a lyric video for the 9/11 inspired track “September” which can be seen here: http://youtu.be/i5G5uzrYWXw. An EPK featuring Michael and George discussing this new project can be seen here: http://youtu.be/BPYIoe0fTqI. Only To Rise was produced by Michael Sweet who also produced the last Stryper album, No More Hell To Pay, which received massive fan praise and critical acclaim alike.
 
The track listing for Only To Rise is:                                                          
 
1)      The Wish                                                    
2)      Dying Rose
3)      Love Stays
4)      Time Will Tell
5)      Rescue Me
6)      Me Without You
7)      Recover
8)      Divine
9)      September
10)   Strength In Numbers
11)   Hero-Zero
12)   Only To Rise
 
Plans are currently being worked out for Sweet & Lynch to play a few live shows in the Spring of next year, making this different than any other supergroups that record together but never play live. More information will be announced in the near future. If the past records of these four musicians are any indication, no fan will want to miss these shows.
 
 
 
Tue
26
Aug

X-DRIVE - Get Your Rock On (Review)

information persons: 
section name: 
SCORE
content: 

 

85%
Produced By: 
Andy John & Jeremy Brunner
Running Time: 
45
Release Date: 
2014
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
Melodic Hard Rock
Label: 
Frontiers Records
Artist: 
Score: 
85
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Categories: 
Reviews
 
Newcomer X-Drive is the brainchild of guitarist Jeremy Brunner who put this band together with star vocalist Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Montrose). Together the pair wrote all the album’s songs and Jeremy co-produced with the legendary producer Andy Johns, who sadly passed away not long after completing this album.
Mixed by Wyn Davis and joined by James Lomenzo on bass, there has been a lot of money, time and effort put into this and it shows.
Keith St. John sounds a million bucks on this album – I prefer his vocals here over Burning Rain and his solo work. He’s just completely in the groove and speaks to my tastes perfectly.
 
There’s nothing overly complicated in the music itself, we’ve heard this kind of record before, but it is classic American hard rock done very very well. With so much great music coming out of Scandinavia, the Americans have been a little left behind. So it’s great to get a well written, well produced album in this vein.
 
Brunner’s riffs drive the album, delivering two solid hard rockers with Love’s A Bitch and Get Your Rock On to kick off the album.
But it’s the groove infused Steppin On The Rock that really gets my attention. The moody ballad Baby Bye Bye continues to grow the stature of this record, with the catchy California driving it over the top.
Lay Me Down is a moody, darker rocker that fits in beautifully. A great vocal here from Keith.
Fly Beyond The Angels is a very nice sentimental ballad and the mid-tempo groove of Just Can’t Stay is also solid.
Love Breaks The Fool is a enjoyable mid-tempo melodic rocker to finish.
 
The only thing that I could suggest might have made this even better is a couple of more uptempo tunes. The guys already sound in the right groove, so it would have been cool to see them really let go. The majority of the album is best described as mid-tempo, but there’s still enough variety here to please most folks and as stated earlier, the production, the performances and the songs are all of high quality.
Definitely worth checking out!
 
Tue
22
Jul

X-DRIVE Premiere Debut Video "California"

Artist: 
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Categories: 
News Feed
LA BASED HARD ROCKERS X-DRIVE VIDEO “CALIFORNIA” FROM FORTHCOMING DEBUT ALBUM “GET YOUR ROCK ON” HAS EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE
PREMIERE ON BLABBERMOUTH.COM
 
“Get Your Rock On” also available as instant grat track;
Debut album “Get Your Rock On” due out in August on FRONTIERS RECORDS !
 
Hard Rock fans should not miss the exclusive worldwide premiere on Blabbermouth.com of the video for “California” from X-DRIVE. You can watch the clip clicking on this link: http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/x-drive-featuring-former-megadeth-montrose-members-california-video-premiere/.
 
The new video is taken from the forthcoming debut album “Get Your Rock On” coming out on Frontiers Records on August 22nd in Europe and August 26th in North America.  “California” is also available now – together with the title track “Get Your Rock On” - as instant gratification track for all those who preorder the album now via iTunes. The two songs can also be streamed via Spotify.
 
X-DRIVE is a new band centered around guitar player Jeremy Brunner, an Oregon transplant, who – on the heels of his songwriting skills managed to put together an impressive debut with an affinity for catchy riffs, insightful lyrics and huge choruses. Some of the best musicians in Los Angeles have joined the ranks of X-DRIVE, including bassist James Lomenzo (White Lion, Megadeth, Black Label Society), singer Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Lynch Mob, Montrose) and to round out the project hard-hitting drummer Fred Fischer from Midline. Then legendary producer Andy Johns, former Led Zeppelin engineer, was able to finish the X-DRIVE tracks just before his tragic death in 2013.
 
“Get Your Rock On” was mixed by Wyn Davis (Black Sabbath, Dio, Whitesnake, Dokken), and it took more than a year in the studio to make things just the way Brunner wanted, as the guitarist is a bit of a mastermind perfectionist. But it was definitely worth the wait! The X-DRIVE debut album positively rocks from beginning to end.
 
For more information please visit:
 
Tue
10
Jun

X-DRIVE TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM GET YOUR ROCK ON

Artist: 
Friday, August 22, 2014
Categories: 
News Feed

IMPRESSIVE L.A. NEWCOMERS X-DRIVE TO RELEASE

DEBUT ALBUM "GET YOUR ROCK ON"

ON FRONTIERS IN AUGUST

 

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of X-DRIVE's debut album entitled “Get Your Rock On” on August 22nd in Europe and August 26th in North America.

X-DRIVE is a new band centered around guitar player Jeremy Brunner, an Oregon transplant, who – on the heels of his songwriting skills managed to put together an impressive debut with an affinity for catchy riffs, insightful lyrics and huge choruses.

Some of the best in Los Angeles have joined the ranks of X-DRIVE, including bassist James Lomenzo (White Lion, Megadeth, Black Label Society), singer Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Lynch Mob, Montrose) and to round out the project hard-hitting drummer Fred Fischer from Midline. Then legendary producer Andy Johns, the former Led Zeppelin engineer, was able to finish the X-DRIVE tracks just before his tragic death in 2013.

“It was such a pleasure to contribute to Jeremy's effort! He has written and crafted an incredible homage to the style of 80's rock, a style that I cut my teeth on back in the day,” Lomenzo said. “His love for the era and style really comes through in a surprisingly satisfying way.”

“Writing with Brunner was an absolute pleasure,” St. John said. “On the whole, the vehicle for his musical canvasses has been a breath of fresh air in directness and simplicity. I found myself patently inspired to fashion my parts for this collection of songs that was Jeremy’s own refreshing take on the ‘80s."

“Get Your Rock On” was mixed by Wyn Davis (Black Sabbath, Dio, Whitesnake, Dokken), and it took more than a year in the studio to make things just the way Brunner wanted, as the guitarist is a bit of a mastermind perfectionist. But it was definitely worth the wait! The X-DRIVE debut positively rocks from beginning to end.

Check out the official EPK here: http://youtu.be/LGavI-erOeI

“Get Your Rock On” will include the following tracklisting: Love’s A Bitch; Get Your Rock On; Steppin’ On The Rock; Baby Bye Bye; California; Lay Me Down; Turn The Noize Down; Beyond the Angels; Rattlesnake Eyes; Just Can’t Stay; Change of Heart; Love Breaks the Fool.

 
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