FR: LIBBY HENRY/KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/SHAZILA MOHAMMED
FIREBALL MINISTRY
RETURN WITH
‘THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK,’
OUT OCTOBER 18 ON LIQUOR AND POKER MUSIC
Currently in the midst of a U.S. tour with CKY, FIREBALL MINISTRY have announced they’ll release their third full-length album THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK–and first offering on Liquor and Poker Music–October 18. The critically acclaimed Los Angeles quartet–whose “authenticity and songwriting trumps the band’s more prevalent peers without breaking a sweat” (Alternative Press)–will perform two New York shows; Tuesday, September 6 at Irving Plaza and on Thursday, September 15 at The Continental (CMJ showcase).
For THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK, FIREBALL MINISTRY–named “The #1 Metal Band You Need To Know Now” by Guitar World and “Undeniably infectious…” by Revolver–re-teamed with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver). Recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 West and the late Elliott Smith’s New Monkey Studios, THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK showcases the definitive FIREBALL MINISTRY sound which LA Weekly described as “timeless hard rock excellence…magnificently heavy.”
The band recently shot a video for their first single, the hard rock powerhouse “Sundown” with director Brandon Trost (Old 97s, Whitestarr). Listen to “Sundown” by clicking on the following link:http://www.liquorandpokermusic.com/mp3/fireball_sundown.mp3. Other album highlights include the menacing power chords of opener “It Flies Again,” the relentlessly raucous “In The End” and the powerfully hypnotic “The Broken.”
Formed in Cincinnati in the late 90s by guitarist/vocalist JAMES A. ROTA II and guitarist EMILY J. BURTON, the group moved to New York City before ultimately settling in Los Angeles and hooking up with drummer JOHN ORESHNICK. The group released their 1999 debut Ou Est La Rock?–French for “Where Is The Rock?”–via Bong Load Custom Records. In 2001, Fu Manchu bassist Brad Davis and producer Rasculinecz teamed with the band to recordF.M.E.P. (Small Stone Records) which featured three new songs and five covers. The group soon developed a cult following with their first two releases as well as their memorable live performances. On the group’s second full-length, The Second Great Awakening (Nuclear Blast Records 2003) bass tracks were handled by Janis Tanaka (ex-L7) and Fu Manchu’s Davis. The Second Great Awakening became one of the most acclaimed rock releases of the year and made the band an MTV Headbanger’s Ball staple.
FIREBALL MINISTRY—now featuring new bassist JOHNY CHOW (ex-Systematic)–currently appear on Bam Margera Presents: Viva La Bands, a compilation CD of hand-picked artists assembled by the MTV skateboarding personality of “Jackass” and “Viva La Bam” fame. Stay tuned for winter touring news from a band that has shared the stage with rock and metal heavyweights such as Dio, Anthrax, Danzig, Motorhead, Killswitch Engage, Andrew W.K., Slayer, Mastodon, Fu Manchu, Dimmu Borgir, Hatebreed, Turbonegro, Shadows Fall, The Datsuns, Lamb Of God and many others.
Log onto: www.fireballministry.com and www.liquorandpokermusic.com for more information.
Check some of the critical accolades for FIREBALL MINISTRY’s THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING:
“…sinister biker metal…Prepare to become a believer.”
–Jon Wiederhorn, GUITAR WORLD (December, 2003)
“…trademark purist metal with groove, given another life…‘King’ is the money shot, but every song ably combines thud and melody.”
–George Smith, VILLAGE VOICE, (1/14/04)
“Fluid bass lines and unpretentious percussion…FIREBALL MINISTRY’s authenticity and songwriting trumps the band’s more prevalent peers without breaking a sweat.”
–Brian O’Neill, ALTERNATIVE PRESS (January, 2004)
“Chock full of languorous, hypnotic grooves, the band have hit upon something very special here, an irresistible mix of blues, grunge and just balls out rock that places them somewhere between Nebula and Soundgarden. If you’re looking for thrashy riffs and hyperspeed drums then don’t even bother pressing ‘play’ – this never gets anywhere near approaching ‘double time’, instead rolling along nicely at its own pace…”
–Nick Ruskell, KERRANG!, (11/15/03)
“All hard rock dreams are fulfilled with Reverend Jim’s Sabbath inspired hooks and leads. Just plain blistering stoned-out hard rock heaven and maximum riffage delivers us to complete salvation.”
–George Petros, THRASHER (January, 2004)
“Determined to unleash all of the pent-up energies of the heavy metal form, past, present and future, Fireball Ministry seem assured to lead the charge up the hard rock mountain with a sound that has drawn comparisons to everyone from Grand Funk Railroad to Motorhead to Black Sabbath.”
–Jonathan Norman, HIT PARADER (June, 2004)
“Meaty riffs awash in steadily throbbing grooves and obvious allegiance to metal’s roots.”
–Mike Magnuson, METAL EDGE (March, 2004)
“Like Alice Cooper crashing into Judas Priest on the ‘70s rock freeway, Fireball Ministry are based in one truth: real rock conquers all.”
–Iann Robinson, MTV.COM (June, 2002)
“Fireball Ministry churn out mile-long riffs with no end in sight. Leather jacket wearin’, motorcycle ridin’ rock n’ roll.”
–Amy Sciarretto, METAL MANIACS (March, 2004)
“Power rock with power grooves…carrying the torch for the future of rock n’ roll…”
–Joseph Graham, OUTBURN (October, 2003)
“Ballsy heavy metal with both feet rooted firmly in the old school.”
–Jerry Ewing, METAL HAMMER (December, 2004)
“At times very melodic and almost peppy, Fireball Ministry’s musical fortunes eventually turn to show a dark side. They drag their instruments through sludge, tune down and change their vocals to a low growl.”
—ROLLING STONE.COM (Bio profile, 2003)
“A purer, more honest metal band you will struggle to find.”
–Ian Webster, TERRORIZER (UK, Issue #114)
Check out the complete track listing for THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK:
1.) It Flies Again (5:02)
2). Sundown (4:27)
3.) The Broken (4:45)
4.) In The End (3:12)
5.) Hellspeak (5:24)
6.) Two Tears (3:09)
7.) Under The Thunder (5:23)
8.) Spill The Demons (4:38)
9.) Rising From The Deep (4:10)
10.) Save The Saved (3:38)
Catch FIREBALL MINISTRY out on the road:
With CKY
Wed 8/24 Minneapolis, MN The Quest
Thu 8/25 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
Fri 8/26 Sauget, IL Pops
Sat 8/27 Chicago, IL House of Blues
Sun 8/28 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
Tue 8/30 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
Wed 8/31 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Fri 9/2 Toronto, ON Docks
Sat 9/3 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Sun 9/4 Pittsburgh, PA Club Zoo
Mon 9/5 Reading, PA The Silo
Tue 9/6 New York, NY Irving Plaza
Thu 9/8 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
Fri 9/9 Worcester, MA The Palladium
Sat 9/10 Baltimore, MD Sonar
Sun 9/11 Norfolk, VA The Norva Theatre
CMJ Showcase
Thu 9/15 New York, NY The Continental
MSO Contacts:
Libby Henry lhenry@msopr.com 818.380.0400 x224
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson kashton@msopr.com 818.380.0400 x233
Shazila Mohammed shazila@msopr.com 818.380.0400 x241
###