Year : 2024
Style : Thrash Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 122 mb
Bio:
Flotsam and Jetsam is a thrash metal band that formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1981.The group was founded in 1981 under the name “Paradox” by drummer Kelly David-Smith and guitarists Pete Mello and Dave Goulder, who were later joined by bassist Jason Newsted. Jason had answered a newspaper ad that Kelly had placed in the local newspaper looking for a bass player. Jason came to Phoenix with his band "Gangster" from Michigan on their way to California, but Gangster broke up while in Phoenix. Kelly got a call from a couple of his high school friends, Mark Vasquez and Kevin Horton, looking for some people to jam with playing covers of bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, MSG, and UFO. The band then morphed into “Dredlox” together with the new recruits, Jason was now the main vocalist.Kelly saw "A.K." (Eric A. Knutson) singing "The Goodbye Girl" at his high school talent show. In 1982 they were in the same summer school class and Kelly asked Knutson if he wanted to audition. They put him on 2-week probation and he later joined the band. Due to the provisional nature of his membership, the band referred to Knutson as "the 2 weeker." Ed Carlson, from another local rival band called Exodus (not to be confused with the California Bay Area thrash metal band of the same name), also joined in 1983 after Kevin departure from the band. The name of the band changed into "The Dogz", but it didn't last long. Eventually the band renamed itself 'Flotsam and Jetsam' after writing a song inspired from a chapter of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Two Towers.The band made its live debuts in local clubs and in California and had the opportunity to play with bands such as Megadeth, Armored Saint, Alcatrazz, Malice, Exciter, Mercyful Fate, Riot, Autograph. In 1985 Mark Vasquez stepped out and 17-year-old Michael Gilbert joined the band. Flotsam and Jetsam released two demo tapes Iron Tears and Metal Shock in 1985.They created their first video Hammerhead from the Metal Shock demo: "We taped it in Jason and Ed's apartment living room. We also made a live video at the infamous Bootlegger in Phoenix",(owned by Gloria Cavelara "1985", currently married to Max Cavelera) These videos and the band's demos made a good impression on record labels. After the band contributed to the Speed Metal Hell II and Metal Massacre VII compilations, they then signed a deal with Metal Blade Records.Michael Spencer stepped out shortly after the European tour, his replacement was Troy Gregory, in May of the next year the band released its second opus No Place for Disgrace. According to Michael Spencer, No Place for Disgrace was going to be called Blessing in Disguise, but after his departure, Flotsam's former A&R Michael Alago let Metal Church (who was also on Elektra at the time) use that name for their third album, which was eventually released in February 1989.[6] No Place for Disgrace includes a cover of Elton John's hit "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" and therefore a video was shot. The band opened for King Diamond in America and supported Megadeth, Testament and Sanctuary in Europe on the So Far, So Good... So What! tour.Flotsam and Jetsam signed a new deal with mega-giants MCA/Universal in 1989 and began work on their third album When the Storm Comes Down, released in May 1990. The band expected to gain recognition with this album, but it suffered from a variety of mixed reviews.In June 2013 the band headlined at the Warriors of Metal Festival in Columbus Ohio, then returning home, Flotsam hired manager Jeff Keller(JKM). His roster includes the likes of: UDO, Destruction, Lordi, Hirax, Primal Fear, Satan, Suicidal Angels.In 2006 after the successful remix and master of the debut album “Doomsday for the Deceiver”, there was a lot of fan requests to have “No Place for Disgrace” follow the same process. After spending some time at the 25 year mark, the band decided to go forward with this idea. The band had some issues with the original production and definition of some of the parts played, due to the speed it was recorded at. Having had success with Ugly Noise through the PledgeMusic process, the band would be able to again gain the rights to this classic with a re-recording and some minor changes.In the middle of 2013 Flotsam embarked in this monumental task of reviving some songs that for the most part hadn’t been played in 20 years. All tracks (except drums) were done at the Flotsam studio with Michael Gilbert at the helm. In December the project was finished and the re-recording of the classic album "No Place For Disgrace", was again released using PledgeMusic to finance the project.The album, No Place For Disgrace 2014, is set to release on Feb 14th, 2014 world wide through Metal Blade Records distribution. NPFD will feature some of Flotsam's friends from the past as guest musicians, Mark Simpson, Chris Poland, Tory Edwards.Flotsam is currently ramping up for their (29 show) European tour with Sepultura, Legion of the Damned and Mortillery. The tour kick's off on Feb 7th in Bochum, Germany.
Album:
In an increasingly fast-paced world that appears to be interested only in the latest innovations, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM continue to be the proverbial rock in turbulent waters. For almost forty years, the thrash metal act from Phoenix, Arizona has released new albums on a regular basis and toured successfully around the globe. The band has never shown any loss of form or weaknesses to speak of, on the contrary: Since the arrival of their 1986 debut "Doomsday For The Receiver", FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have delivered an impressive number of awesome offerings. Friday 13th, September 2024 will see the release of their 15th studio album "I Am The Weapon" on AFM/Believe, a recording that more than deserves its self-confident title. "I Am The Weapon" not only takes up seamlessly where its two outstanding predecessors "The End Of Chaos" (2019) and "Blood In The Water" (2021) left off, but also goes one step further in terms of musical skill and composition. “We`re very excited to unleash this album onto the metal community,“ states singer Erik AK Knutson. „We took our time, and crafted an album that everyone of us in the band is happy with. We went through a ton of songs and ideas to end up with the final choices for this record.” To ease the wait for all Flotsam And Jetsam fans, four lead singles will be released before the album arrives at the physical and digital stores: the title track (including lyric video) has been available online since the end of April, the official clip for the second single "Primal" will follow on 31 May 2024, "Burned My Bridges" will be out on 5 July, and the official "A New Kind Of Hero" video is scheduled to be launched on 2 August 2024.„To be honest, we were somewhat nervous making this record, just like we had been on ‚The End of Chaos’ and ‘Blood in the Water’,” reveals guitarist Steve Conley. „Those two records we were very happy with, and yet we always feel the pressure to top what we did on our last album. After finishing this record, we feel that we came forward with some amazing and at times unusual music. Hopefully the fans agree.” Conley references typical FLOTSAM AND JETSAM numbers such as "Black Wings", "I Am The Weapon" and "A New Kind of Hero": aggressive, fast-paced songs that also hold a number of surprises in store. Guitarist Michael Gilbert adds: “’Black Wings’ has an unusual breakdown section and intro, "I Am The Weapon" has almost a death metal intro and outro, and "A New Kind Of Hero" has an unusual arrangement and still retains a great sense of melody. We really strive to create music that stays heavy, but retains an element of melody as well.“ The atmospheric but not super-fast "Burned My Bridges" is somewhat unusual Flotsam And Jetsam material. The same applies to "The Head Of The Snake", which is based on aggressive vocals and drop-tuned guitars, and the catchy "Beneath The Shadows" featuring a groove that’s a little uncharacteristic of this band."I Am The Weapon" was composed and produced by the whole band and the eleven songs were recorded at SonicPhish Productions, Gnome Lord Studios, Wayne Manor Studios, and Seventh Spike Studios. The superb cover artwork was again created by Andy Pilkington.There’s every sign of a storm brewing and a hot festival summer in the offing. Drummer Ken Mary states: “We did just complete almost a month of touring through the US, Canada, and ending in Brazil. This summer we are scheduled at Grasspop, Dynamo and Wacken, and we will also be doing some shows between those festivals as well. We are looking forward to seeing all our friends across the pond!“ FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s countless European fans join them in their anticipation!
Line-Up:
Eric A.K. - Vocals (1984-2001, 2002-present) - See also: ex-The Human Condition, ex-Dogz, ex-Dredlox
Michael Gilbert - Guitars (1984-1999, 2010-present)
Steve Conley - Guitars (2014-present) - See also: Tragul, F5
Bill Bodily - Bass (2020-present) - See also: Contrarian, ex-War of Attrition, ex-Freya, ex-Inhumatus, ex-Toxik
Ken Mary - Drums (2018-present) - See also: Fifth Angel, ex-Knight Fury, ex-Accept, ex-Chastain, ex-David T. Chastain, ex-Impellitteri, ex-James Byrd, ex-TKO, ex-Strike, ex-Alice Cooper, ex-Giuffria, ex-House of Lords, ex-Magdallan, ex-Randy Hansen, ex-Soul Shock Remedy
Tracklist:
01. A New Kind of Hero 04:50
02. Primal 03:53
03. I Am the Weapon 03:17
04. Burned My Bridges 04:14
05. The Head of the Snake 04:41
06. Beneath the Shadows 04:15
07. Gates of Hell 03:58
08. Cold Steel Lights 03:55
09. Kings of the Underworld 04:01
10. Running Through the Fire 04:53
11. Black Wings 05:19
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