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NEW CDS 2009

 E1 MUSIC SIGNS KITTIE

NEW ALBUM, IN THE BLACK, RELEASED SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

e1 music announces the addition of Canada's kittie to its heavy metal roster. under this worldwide deal, kittie will release three albums for the label.

kittie (morgan lander- vocals and guitar, mercedes lander- drums, tara mcleod- guitar, and ivy vujuc- bass guitar) has released four studio albums during its career which have sold collectively over 1,250,00o copies. the bands new album, in the black, is slated for release on september 15, 2009. some new songs on the album are "cut throat," "sorrow i know", and "my plague."

kittie vocalist morgan lander says, "we are totally thrilled and honoroed to be working  with scott givens and to now be part of the e1 family. we have been hard at work for the past few months perfecting our latest musical offering and are pleased with the final result of "in the black". it is everything that kittie is suppposed to be: heavy, fast, brash, and nasty, yet at times introspective, feminine and emotinal. one thing it is not, however, is compromising of the sound and style that we have come to be know for. this s*** is heavy! our new label pairing with e1 will actualize the vision that we have held  constant over the years for the band."

e1 music vp of metal, scott givens adds, "as a band, kittie truly is a one of a kind powerhouse. i know i speak for everyone at e1 music when i say how excited we are to be working with them and launching "in the black" to the masses."

currently the band is working on fall tour plans and will be shooting two videos during the month of july.

for more info, go to www.kochrecords.com, www.kittierocks.com or www.myspace.com/officialkittie.

band bio:

"WE wanted this to be a behemmoth of an album, a real beast," sAYs KitTIe front woman Morgan lander of in the bLAck, the fifth studio album of her bands decade-long career as metal's reigning femme fatales, the band delivered true on their promise, creating a 12-track behemoth of unapologetic metal splendor, forging bone-crushing music and penetrating vOcals into a snarling beast of blunt force trauma. and, better yet, they did it without any drama.

tara mcleod, kittie's acclaimed guitarist returns with a prodigious second studio effort. "tara comes from a different school of music, she's more influenced by blues and jazz, and as we evolve as a band we definitely play off of each other," morgan says of her fellow guitarist. "they complement each other really well, adds mercedes, the band's drummer, "and it was really nice to have someone to be able to come to practiCe with a solo for a song or a cool riff. it was nice to have a third party offering suggestion." also familiar to fans is bassist ivey vujic, who has been in the band for two years, making this the most dynamic and engaging liNeup in kittie's history and their chemistry shows!

with total domestic sales in excess of 2.5 million, kittie also approaches the recording of in the black as complete free agents, for their first time ever, writing and recording a record with absolutely no outside influences breathing down their niecks. the results will make your skin crawl and the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention.

"iTS THE MOST FOCUSED PIECE OF MUSIC WE'VE EVER PUT OUT, AND IT WAS THE MOST FOCUSED PROCESS," SAYS MERCEDES OF THE NEW RELEASE. "WE JUST DID WHATEVER WE WANTED TO DO AND WROTE WHATEVER WE WANTED TO WRITE." ADDS MORGAN, "WE SET OUT TO MAKE THIS ALBUM THE COMPLETE ANTITHESIS OF WHAT OUT LAST ALBUM WAS, AND TO DO THINGS AS DIFFERENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF WRITING, RECORDING AND SONG STRUCTURE. WE FELT VERY BOXED IN PRODUCTION-WISE ON THE LAST ALBUM, AND WE WERE DETERMINED TO MAKE AN ALBUM WHERE WE COULD FEEL FREE, LIBERATED, AND LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES."

IN OTHER WORDS, THE ALBUM IS KITTIE IN ALL THEIR UNADULTERATED SPLENDOR, A COLOSSAL EFFORT THAT COMBINES EVERYTHING FANS HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM THE FEARSOME FOURSOME, ALONG WITH A FEW SURPRISES. "MY PLAGUE" IS THE ALBUM'S PRIMAL MATING CALL, A SINISTER BROOD OF MORGAN'S SADISTIC VOCAL DIRGES AND GROWLS, A SWIRLING GRING OF GUITARS AND AN ARTILLERY SPRAY OF DRUM COVER. "FORGIVE AND FORGET" IS JUST AS BRUTAL, BUT LACED BY A MELODIC UNDERBELLY AS SOFT AS THE SONG'S GUITAR SOLOS ARE SCHORCHING, AND "DIE MY DARLING" TRADES THE DEATH MASK VOCALS FOR A MELODIC PITCH AND RESONATING GANG VOCAL ON THE CHORUS. IT'S A FILTHY AS ANYTHING KITTIE HAVE EVER RECORDED BEFORE, BUT TWICE AS INVITING.

"I WANTED TO TRY AND  DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT VOCALLY, NOT THE SAME SCREAMING AND SINGING," SAYS MORGAN. "I CHALLENGED MYSELF TO FIND A NEW VOICE FOR THIS ALBUM, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SONGS WHERE I REALLY THINK I HAVE IT. I WANTED TO DIG DEEPER TO MAKE THE SOUND MORE RAW AND REAL, MORE IN YOUR FACE. IN THE CASE OF 'DIE MY DARLING,' IT WAS SASSY AND IT NEEDED THAT NASTY SPIN ON THINGS." MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

AND IF YOU THINK YOU HEAR A LICK OR TWO THAT REMINDS YOU OF SOME OF METAL'S CLASSIC FORCES, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT FAR FROM THE MARK- AS LONG AS YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY, THAT IS.

"I  FEEL LIKE A LOT OF BANDS DON'T TAKE THE CUES FROM THEIR ELDERS, AND THEY'RE JUST RIPPING EACH OTHER OFF," SAYS MERCEDES OF TODAY'S METAL SCENE.

"WE GREW UP IN A HOUSE WITH LATE 70'S CLASSIS ROCK AND EARLY METAL, AND AS WE GET OLDER OUR INFLUENCES ARE STARTING TO COME INTO OUR SONGWRITING MORE. WE JUST DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S OUT RIGHT NOW."

"THE CLASSIC METAL FEEL IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GROWN INTO", CONTINES MORGAN. "AS WE GET OLDER AND BECOME BETTER MUSICIANS, IT'S NECESSARY TO GO BACK IN TIME AND APPRECIATE AN OLDER STYLE AND THE FLEDGING FORM OF THE MUSIC YOU'RE PLAYING. THE 70'S AND 80'S WERE A MAGICAL TIME IN METAL AND THOSE GUYS WERE AMAZING PLAYERS. WE TOTALLY RESPECT IT, SO WHY NOT PAY HOMAGE IF YOU CAN PULL IT OFF?"

pULL IT OFF THEY DO, "KINGDOM COME" KICKING THE ALBUM OFF IN AN INSTRUMENTAL FASHION THAT WOULD DO METALLICA PROUD AND "MY PLAGUE" FOLLOWING IN TRUE "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" FASHION, "READY AIM RIOT" PACKING A GUITAR SWOON SIMILAR IN STYLE TO SEMINAL TO THE THRASH OF EARLY ANTHRAX, AND CLASSIC ROCK EVEN GETTING A NOD ON "WHISKY LOVE SONG," WHICH MIGHT EMBLAZE AN EDUCATED LISTENERS WITH  A VISION OF THIN LIZZY ON SPEED AND STEROIDS. THE ALBUM IS EQUAL PARTS KITTIE'S PAST AND EQUAL PARTS KITTIES FUTURE. "FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD," EXPLAINS MORGAN, "WE'VE  DONE A LOT OF LOOKING BACK WITH MUSIC AND WE WEAR OUR INFLUENCES ON OUR SLEEVES- METALLICA, DEATH, CARCASS, AND EVEN CLASSIC BANDS LIKE THIN LIZZY, WHO MERCEDES LISTENS TO A LOT.

"THIS ALBUM SPEAKS FOR ITSELF- OUT MUSICIANSHIP IS BETTER, WE'RE MORE SELF-ASSURED AND COMFORTABLE, AND WE JUST DID WHAT WE DO WITH NO BOUNDARIES AND NO LIMITATION. WE APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE KNOW US FROM OUR FIRST ALBUM AND WE RESPECT OUR HISTORY, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND APPRECIATE KITTIE FOR THE EVOLUTIONARY STEP THAT WE'VE TAKEN. WHAT WE DO IS BOTH INTRIGUING AND FRIGHTENING AT THE SAME TIME- I THINK THATS WHY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP AT IT FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE, AND WHY WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME"

e1 music signs metal band dirge within

(new york, ny) - chicago -based metal band dirge within has signed a worldwide, multi-album deal with e1 music and joins label mates high on fire, hatebreed, in flames, satyricon, burning human and others. the band has also entered into  a worldwide co-publishing deal and exclusive administration deal.

dirge within features jerms (vocals), shaun glass (guitar), jimmy knight (drums), brian paz (bass) and matt szlachta (guitar). the band's debut album was released september 1st, 2009, and they are currently touring nationally with static x.

shaun glass of dirge within says, "we are ecstatic to be part of the new e1 family, joining a roster of wicked bands and having a metal brother like the one and only scott gives as out artist relations guy is amazing. we are mega excited to be working with such amazing people at our new home."

vp of metal scott givens adds, dirge within are in my opinion one of he true leaders of a new wave of american metal and i couldn't be happier to add them to e1 music's constantly growing metal roster.

dirge within has so far shows alongside acts such as god forbid, nile, death angel and prong. they were proud to be part of last year's jagermeister music tour with hatebreed, type o negative, 3 inches of blood, dope, and kittie.

check out the video teaser for the album at http://www.vision4films.com/ae/preview.html

for more information, please visit www.myspace.com/dirgewithin where you can also see dirgetv video blog updates as they're posted!

band bio:

"i should have done this years ago," guitarist shaun glass, who cut his teeth in both a death metal band (broken hope) and a commercially accesible rock group, (soul), said  regarding the impetus for forming his new, chicago-based band dirge within. "i was growing tired of where i was at, both musically and mentALLY, AND I WANTED TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS REALLY TRUE TO MY ROOTS BUT HAD A MODERN SOUND. I WANTED TO PLAY MORE MENTAL AND HAVE SHREDDING GUITARS AND BIG HEAVY CHORUSES AND IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO START SOMEHING NEW AND FRESH, LIKE HAVING A NEW KID. IT WAS LIKE I HAD ONE CHILD, WHO WENT OFF ON ITS OWN AND IS GONE. NOW IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING AND GET MY HEAD BACK ON ENJOYING MUSIC," THE GUITARIST SAID, LAYING HIS CARDS FACE UP ON THE TABLE. WITH DIRGE wITHIN, HE TOOK A DIFFERENT PATH AND IS TRYING NEWER THINGS. WITH THAT RISK COMES THE GREATEST REWARDS. AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT HE IS INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR DIRGE WITHIN.

if any project could re-ignite and stoke the embers of glass' fire for hard rock, it was dirge within, who will release their punishing debut, fore fed lies via e1 entertainment, in september. force fed lies packs power grooves with plenty of memorable melody, making it a smart heavy music opus. glass was succinct in this summation that dirge within is "metal for the average dude, like the starbucks of metal!" the album will resonate with the longhairs, the headbanger, the midwestern truckers, struppers and all those workaday men and women who clock out and look for something lean 'n mean to blow off a little steam to. in effect, force fed lies is like a sonic therapy session where the angry and disaffected can immerse themselves in.

the seeds of the band were sown when glass and drummer jimmy knight were penning music on the side, for fun. fate stepped in when vocalist jeremy ("jerms") benske went to see soul at the chicago metro and handed glass a cd of his band at the time. of that initial interaction, glass recalled, "i listened to it and it was cool. granted, it was so leftfield for me. his band was really heavy." jerms concurs saying, "i had met him once, a long time ago. i gave him the disc before he went onstage and thought, 'this guy won't listen to it.' sure enough, two weeks later, i get an email from him." glass and jerms, who had been in bands since the age of 12, with a guitar background, exchanged ideas and eventually, the  vocalist participated in a practice session, and thus sealed his spot as the vocalist. glass recalled, "when he jammed with us, he threw down at practice, grabbed a mic and started ad-libbing and it just felt right. i was smiling while playing and i knew he was the right guy. i thought,  with his vibe and creativity, this could be it." jerms had the same exact feeling in this guy: that dirge within was meant to be. "i knew that from the get-go from that first practice, i got the vibe, like a premonition, that this would be bigger than anything i've ever done."

when the lineup was solidified, glass was finally happy and ready to move forward. "it was like i could smile again," he said. "it was inevitable that i made this a full-time band. it was metal, what i wanted to play, and it was a good sounding. there was no denying that this band was more me in so many ways." the beauty of dirge within is how the band appeals to a broad and wide cross-section of hard rock fans. "this band is not death metal, but we can play with death metal bands," glass explained. "we've opened for iced earth, nile and we've toured with static-x. we can play with anyone from slipknot to slayer to hell yeah and that's the beauty. and that is important for a metal band. certain bands can't do that. we can."

on forced fed lies, dirge within fuse a knack for melody with undiluted aggression, all the while saying something worth listening to and that speaks to a red-blooded, meat eating, beer drinking american audience. jerms puts a lot of thought into his lyrical musings, as well. he says without hesitation, that "i don't write bulls**t , like 'f**k! Do drugs! fight!' you need something that people connect with or it's all mindless dribble." on the title track, he and glass agree it's the crucial, and strongest, song on the platter. according to jerms, the song is "about everything that happened during the bush era: the wars, how everything is misconstructed and then delivered to us. it's like a 'bass awkward' tribute to the soldiers, showing our respect, as they gave their lives for us and that cause."

"forever the martyr" addresses the doldrums of daily life and working for the man with herms revealing, "it's about being sick and tired of routines and waking up, going to work at a jog you hate and getting bored with the monotony of it all." the song was inspired by jerms' time working security, which he hated, and that's something all the regular guys and girl, who will flock to dirge within's music for escape and catharsis, can relate to. essentially, the band took and easy-to-relate subject and set it to music that's heavier than a piano on your chest. "confession" is contemplative rager where jerms comments on those  who are "so down on their life when things are not going right for them. they may have lost their job or relationship and are looking back on life and all those lost opportunities." there is a lyric about being a "memory of mother's on," which is a commentary on not being the same person you were then and how you didn't end up beating the person you thought you were going to be. it's heavy, thought-provoking stuff and it works with the ferocity of the music.

"self-medicate" is a song that "sums up the band, musically," according to glass. jerms reiterated that "writing this song was a growth step for the band, musically. lyrically, i hated everything angsty, like everyone is in high school, so i went to dark places and medicated myself." glass also said, "everyone know someone with that type of problem, so everyone can relate to the song. we write music and lyrics for everyone and we're not trying to be an esoteric death metal band."

as for glass' pat in two polar opposite bands, he isn't worried that fans of this prior efforts won't follow him into dirge within. "if anyone ahs ever followed me musically, they will hear of bit of everything in this," he said. "dirge within doesn't sound like my former bands, but it's my writing and i can't escape myself. if people are open-minded listen and like it, cool. if not, go buy something else. the past is the past, and that relationship is gone from my life and i don't think about it anymore, even though i am proud of it. it made me a better musician and songwriter for this band."

indeed, dirge within are their own entity, regardless of any of the member' previous associations. the band wallops with deep grooves and unforgettable melodic bluster and offers up a fistful of force fed lies that tried 'n true metal and rock fans will want to swallow.