TORTURED TONE

It’s never easy choosing singles from an album, especially an album where the songs are both well-crafted and packed with lyrics that instantly throw up all kinds of visual ideas, some more bizarre than others. So, following on from ‘No Place Like Home’ and ‘No Friendly Neighbour’, singles one & two from the debut Primal Rock Rebellion album, ‘Awoken Broken’, it was decided that followers of the project – new to the public, but several years in the making – should be given the chance to register their vote, and the band’s online sites duly glowed red hot with suggestion and counter-suggestion as to just what single three should be…

An interesting exercise for sure, and by and large, what the Primal Rock People wanted was ‘Tortured Tone’… not one of the album’s more deeply rockin’ moments, but certainly one of its most emotive, with a chorus that takes hold then refuses to budge.

For singer, lyric & melody writer Mikee Goodman, ‘Tortured Tone’ has always been a pivotal piece, proving he can shine just as brightly on material on the more measured side of that played by his previous outfit, SikTh, and also giving him the chance to take full control of the accompanying visuals. Conceived, cast & directed by Mikee, this lovingly constructed clip provides a clear insight into what was going through his mind when he penned the lyrics, and the final edit – again, overseen by Mikee – is sure to become a talking point amongst fans of the project.

As with Primal Rock Rebellion in general, there’s no easy option take here, but the end results are all the more satisfying for the time and passion spent…

Says Mikee: "I really wanted to bring the vibe of the song out in this video. And I believe this has been achieved. Which is something I am really pleased about, as this song means so much to me. Is such an emotional song. And is a real journey in itself.

The sorrow in the actress' eyes was perfect. The scenery in this video was really important too. It has log cabins, woodland, seascapes, huge bright fields, rainy cobble stone hills and also a bit of stop frame animation.

The most challenging part of this video was making it rain. I felt it was needed, for the feeling of the song, it was always in my mind. So I built my own rain machine. And it rained!"

Nominated in the ‘Best New Band’ category at this year’s Metal Hammer ‘Golden Gods Awards’, Primal Rock Rebellion is clear proof that stepping outside of your comfort zone can reap spectacular rewards, with ‘No Friendly Neighbour’  the full-tilt result of two very different minds meeting somewhere in the middle!

As with the video for previous single, ‘No Place Like Home’, the clip for ‘No Friendly Neighbour’ has been directed by Goodman; however, whereas the ‘No Place…’ promo was a visually OTT affair, showing a world of monsters and trepidation, the new one focuses more on the musicians themselves, with drummer Dan ‘Loord’ Foord (ex-SikTh) also coming further to the fore…

Says Goodman: “We actually shot the new video on the same day as the ‘No Place Like Home’ one, and it was a very intense experience.

“I mean, I’d been deep in a cave the entire day before – got in at 3am, up at 6am, then started directing, producing, performing and even making the crew breakfast! Really, it was too much to take on, but it pushed me right to the edge – that’s why my performance is so full on. I hope the passion for the music really comes across…”

'Awoken Broken' is out now!

No Friendly Neighbour No Place Like Home I See Lights Bright As A Fire Savage World Tortured Tone White Sheet Robes As Tears Come Falling From The Sky Awoken Broken Search For Bliss Snake Ladders Mirror And The Moon	Order the album on CD from Play or Amazon UK or get it on CD/vinyl from What Records. Digital version available from iTunes UK or iTunes US. Hit the links for other countries or visit your favourite record store France | Italy | Holland | Belgium | Japan Germany | Spain | Scandinavia | USA

PRIMAL ROCK REBELLION released their debut single, ‘No Place Like Home’, via Spinefarm Records on Monday 6th February 2012. 

The single is available as a Limited Edition 10” coloured vinyl from What Records and digital download.

The video has been co-directed by Mikee Goodman and Meats Meier, a renowned CGI artist based in Los Angeles who provided the illustrations for both the single and album artwork.

VERY OFTEN, musicians -- especially established ones -- like to remain within their musical comfort zone, preferring to walk the tried an' tested path rather than breaking out in search of pastures new. Primal Rock Rebellion don't fit that bill.

The brainchild of Adrian Smith and Mikee Goodman, UK musicians with different stories to tell, this is a fresh new project that manages to be both reassuring and unexpected at one and the same time...

On the one side, there's Adrian, a key member of the Iron Maiden set-up, a band he first joined back in 1980; and since that time, Maiden has gone on to become one of the biggest hard rock bands the world has seen, playing to vast and staunchly committed crowds all over the world, opening exciting new doors in parts of the globe many people will never even have heard of! Their last studio album, 'The Final Frontier', hit the No 1 slot in over 28 countries!

With Maiden's reputation having been forged through their ability to blend well-crafted vocal & guitar melodies with the sheer brute force of prime heavy metal, it will surely come as no surprise that the debut Primal Rock Rebellion album, 'Awoken Broken', delivers fully on both fronts, but with an extra nod to the underground, the alternative and the downright edgy -- an aspect of the music that is enhanced from start to finish by the presence of one-time SikTh frontman / lyric-writer / spoken word maestro, Mikee Goodman.

With SikTh now universally lauded as one of the major inspirations of the new 'Djent' movement, it's perfect timing for Mikee to return to the music scene in full force, following that band's decision to take a break after their second 'Death Of A Dead Day' album back in 2006; Mikee's unique vocal approach -- an arresting, signature blend of spoken word plus a wide variety of vocal tones (some dark and disturbing, others that owe a debt to the world of animation) was very much a part of what made SikTh stand out from the chasing pack, and fans will be delighted to know that his key vocal mannerisms have been both retained and honed for Primal Rock Rebellion, in a form tightly bound to the structure of the songs themselves.

Yes, there are spoken word elements, and yes, there are more extreme vocal moments peppered throughout the tracks, but generally speaking, this is a more mature and experienced Mikee, showcasing a strong, melodic voice plus an impressive vocal range, using the more 'adventurous' end of his repertoire as a way of providing contrast and effect.

In essence, Primal Rock Rebellion is the meeting of different minds, different mentalities and different musical backgrounds, but the end result is very much a cohesive, self-produced whole... albeit one that reflects the individual talents of the musicians involved: Adrian provides the guitars, the bass and the advanced song-writing skills -- the sense of drama, of light and shade, of music designed to stir the senses, all of them.

Right from the start, it's been very much a labour of love...

Adrian: "It was great working at my own pace and in my own studio with no time constraints. I think during the making of this album I went around the world twice with Maiden, working on the project in between. In the process, it allowed for a bit more of an experimental approach."

Meanwhile, Mikee goes head to head with this renowned player as a full writing & production partner, adding new (sometimes surprising, often experimental) layers to the tracks, and ensuring that the music glistens with an inherent contemporary sheen.

Mikee: "Adrian inspired me in many ways. I learnt the importance and the power of choruses in songs. Adrian also gave me a lot more belief in myself melodically. I think we pulled each other out of our comfort zones, creating something fresh and exciting along the way. We co-produced the album together, and the whole recording process was very relaxed -- no deadlines, just honing the songs naturally as we recorded them, a new experience for both of us."

IN ADDITION to the Primal Rock Rebellion pair, there are backing vocals on three of the tracks (delivered by Tarin Kerry, discovered by Mikee while he was acting as producer for a band she was in), viola on the bulk of the songs (provided by Abi Fry of Bat For Lashes), plus original SikTh member Dan 'Loord' Foord on drums.

'Awoken Broken' was produced by Adrian and Mikee, and mixed by Simon Hanhart, whose previous credits include everyone from Tin Machine to Saxon. The album features 12 tracks top to tail, and it will be available on digi-pak CD, digital download and double coloured vinyl in gatefold sleeve. The track-listing runs as follows:-

1. No Friendly Neighbour 4.53
2. No Place Like Home 3.06
3. I See Lights 4.59
4. Bright As A Fire 6.21
5. Savage World 3.38
6. Tortured Tone 5.08
7. White Sheet Robes 5.16
8. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 0.47
9. Awoken Broken 4.58
10. Search For Bliss 4.13
11. Snake Ladders 4.43
12. Mirror and the Moon 5.04

Those who like their music with power, passion and the occasional twist 'n' turn will certainly be in for a double-headed treat! You can hear and download for free the album track 'I See Lights' below...


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