Year : 2013
Style : Hard Rock
Country : Ireland
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 107 mb
Bio:
Million Dollar Reload was a rock band from Northern Ireland, founded in 2006, The band recorded the albums Anthems Of A Degeneration (2010), A Sinner's Saint (2012) and As Real As It Gets (2013), and was renamed Blackwater Conspiracy in 2015.Formed in 2006 in Co Tyrone Northern Ireland by Phil Conalane and Kie McMurray. Conalane, Andrew Mackle and McMurray were musicians, playing in various cover bands in Northern Ireland before deciding to collaborate on writing of original material drawing from their shared musical interests. The results were soon recorded and formed the basis of Million Dollar Reload's first EP, 'Needle, Blackout, Fly'. Drummer Davy Cassa was then recruited for purposes of the recording sessions before eventually being invited to join as a full-time member of Million Dollar Reload. Brian Mallon was recruited by McMurray as a second guitarist for live performances of the band's new, original material; he would become a full-time member. Before starting the recording of their debut album, Million Dollar Reload were recruited (minus drummer Cassa) by Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses as his backing band in his post Guns N' Roses career playing under Adler's Appetite. The band performed with Adler in Ireland after he had fired his own band during the European leg of their 2006 tour. This proved to be the catalyst for Million Dollar Reload to enter the studio speedily and begin the recording process for their debut album.Anthems of a Degeneration was recorded at Manor Park Studios in Northern Ireland, and produced by Neal Calderwood. Anthems of a Degeneration was initially a self-released record, only available in physical format, online via the Million Dollar Reload website. After two years of continued sales, the record was picked up by Powerage Records in the UK and re-released in 2010. This point proved to be a major turning point for the band who were quickly offered a release in Japan on Hydrant/Universal Records. In the summer of 2011 drummer Cassa was fired after five years playing in the band. Cassa was replaced by Sean McKernan. Several high-profile support slots followed, most notably for Alice Cooper and later for The Darkness in the Ulster Hall, Belfast. The promotion of Anthems of a Degeneration continued with a UK club tour, followed by a 10 date US tour. On returning to the UK, Million Dollar Reload spent the summer of 2012 playing a number of festivals, most notably Download Festival and Bloodstock. At this point, Million Dollar Reload were being managed by ex-Sanctuary Management manager Dave Thorne who previously worked with Helloween, Arch Enemy and Bruce Dickinson. Thorne has been credited by Jon Bon Jovi for substantially helping Bon Jovi achieve international success while Thorne was marketing manager on Slippery When Wet. Thorne continued to manage Million Dollar Reload for the remainder of their career and change of name.A Sinner's Saint was recorded in 2011, again at Manor Park Studios under producer Neal Calderwood. by which time Finn O'Hagain had replaced McKernan on drums following his departure from the band. Frontiers Records signed Million Dollar Reload in 2012 and subsequently released A Sinner's Saint worldwide in July of the same year. UK tours and several European festival and club shows followed, including support to Koritni & Black Rain at The Bataclan, Paris. For a period Conalane was touted in the media as the new singer for US rockers Velvet Revolver after the departure of Scott Weiland. Conalane always denied that an approach by Velvet Revolver had been made.Million Dollar Reload were dropped by Frontiers Records in 2014 after a refusal by the label to release their newly recorded live album As Real As It Gets, recorded at a club show in Northern Ireland. Million Dollar Reload self-released the album on their own label, Bulletproof 20/20 Records, in 2014. A pivotal European tour followed as support to Atlanta based southern rockers Blackberry Smoke on their 'Fire in the Hole' tour. Andrew Mackle unexpectedly quit midway through the tour. Million Dollar Reload finished the tour as a four piece before returning to Northern Ireland to reassess their future as Million Dollar Reload. The band continued for a short time with Conalane taking up second guitar duties while a suitable replacement was found. A short time thereafter, Piano/Hammond organ player Kevy Brennan was recruited to Million Dollar Reload as the band transitioned from hard rock band to a more laid back rock-n-roll style throughout 2015.A decision was made that given their change in members and musical style, Million Dollar Reload would benefit from a name change to move the project forward. Million Dollar Reload became Blackwater Conspiracy, with a surprise announcement during a gig at the Belfast Empire in August 2015, when the band announced to the fans from the stage that the time had come to reveal the future of the band. A new backdrop and logo design was unveiled and a new chapter started with a selection of new material being performed. Blackwater Conspiracy went to Rockfield Studios, Wales in 2016 to record the band's first album as Blackwater Conspiracy. This album, Shootin' The Breeze, was released in June 2017.
Album:
There are not many bands that stick in my head nearly five years after seeing them for the first time, however Northern Ireland’s Million Dollar Reload are one of them.I first saw them at the 2nd Hardrockhell festival in 2008 when they played a 40 minute set on the third stage, which was really the onsite pub, the Queen Vic.What I heard and saw that day was an amazing hard rock n roll band, and I knew they could go onto bigger and better things.They released, ‘Anthems of a Degeneration’ in 2010 via Powerage and then in 2012 they released ‘A Sinner’s Saint’ on Frontiers Records no less, taking a massive leap forward. They have a third studio release planned for 2014.So fast forward to the present day, and they have just released a live album ‘As Real As It Gets’ which was recorded live at the Diamond Rock Club in Northern Ireland.What is interesting is that this new album is only available exclusively via the M$R website, and the Million Dollar Reload Official on Facebook, so this is defiantly one for the fans, a reward if you like for the support they have shown the band.So, what do you get for your money? On the digipack CD release you get sixteen track’s. However there is also a limited edition double vinyl which unfortunately does not contain the final track, ‘ Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song”.‘Superslave’, is the opening track from the band’s debut, so as comes as no surprise to find it the opening track here, this is kiss ass rock and roll.‘Livin’ in the City’ taken from the 2nd album quickly follows, by which time front man Phil Conalane pipes are well and truly warmed up, his vocal range is truly impressive.The next three tracks are also taken from the bands 2nd album and receive a thunderous applause by the no doubt sweaty and grinning crowd.It takes half a dozen tracks to get to the next song from that debut album but, when it comes, in the form of ‘Tattoos & Dirty Girls’ the crowd go mental. I’ve always liked this song and hearing it live reminds me of just how good MDR are, they are a great live hard rock band.Million Dollar Reload can do wrong tonight, and they reward their fans with a near perfect set, from the blistering `Blow me away`, `Bullets in the Sky` via the rousing `Wicked` every track is met by a loud cheer.The irresistible bluesy ballad `Broken` takes the fever pitch down a notch or two before the final flurry of ‘Goodnight New York’ and ‘Down To The Wire’ bring the house down.‘Cowboy Song’ is a great choice of cover and a great way to end the show. Guitarist B.A.M said of the album “This is a raw, warts and all, record… it’s as real as it gets!. It captures an M$R rock gig perfectly.”The chosen set list is a near perfect mix of the band’s two albums, with 16 tracks in all, nobody can say they were short changed either, it must have been an incredible gig, I only wish I was there.
Line Up:
Phil Conalane - Lead Vocals
Kie McMurray - Bass, Backing Vocals
B.A.M. - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Andy Mack - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Fionn - Drums, Precussion, Backing Vocals
Tracklist:
01. Superslave
02. Livin´ In The City
03. Can´t Tie Me Down
04. Pretty People
05. Blow Me Away
06. Tattoos & Dirty Girls
07. The Last Icon
08. Wicked
09. I Am The Rapture
10. Fight The System
11. Smoke N Mirrors
12. Bullets In The Sky
13. Broken
14. Goodnight New York
15. Down To The Wire
16. Cowboy Song (Bonus Track)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
