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EIGHTEEN VISIONS
JAMES HART - VOCALS When Eighteen Visions released Obsession in 2004, Revolver magazine praised the group as one of a select few that form the future of American metal. For a band thats always liberated itself from genre restrictions, the tag fit well. Fast-forward two years and a road-tightened and revitalized Eighteen Visions have returned with focus redefined and a monolithic album that puts them light years ahead of the pack. Produced by Machine (Lamb of God), the self-titled EIGHTEEN VISIONS is a massive leap forward in confidence, sound and style. People who thought they had us figured out will hear this album and be surprised, says singer and co-founder James Hart. Some might even see us as a new band and thats okay, too. We want listeners to grasp the idea of what Eighteen Visions is now, not what we were a couple of years ago or even five years ago. The electrifying new release builds on the groundwork laid with Obsession, the record Metal Hammer hailed as the album of the year. The band toured heavily in support of the disc, tearing up stages on stateside runs with Avenged Sevenfold, Atreyu, HIM and the Warped Tour, before crossing the Atlantic for a barnstorming tour of the UK with Lostprophets. They maintained momentum throughout, particularly with airplay for the I Let Go and Waiting For The Heavens videos on both Headbangers Ball and Fuse. But for the band, who have developed a diehard international following with three explosive indie albums (Until The Ink Runs Out, Lifeless, Vanity) and a blistering live show, Obsession turned out to be both an ending and a beginning, closing out its early days while pointing the way toward its evolution. We listened to the last record and realized there were a lot of elements that we liked, but needed to be taken to the next level, says Hart. Everything is intensified here the hooks, the melodies, that dirty, driving rock sound. We took an arena rock approach on a lot of the songs, including old-style gang vocals. The goal was to make everything sound huge. They nailed their target with EIGHTEEN VISIONS, a blast-furnace mix of searing riffs, sharp melodies and rich lyrical images. At the heart of the albums volcanic sound is Hartan expressive vocalist who lends emotional depth to songs that slash and burn. The record offers endless highlights, including the stunning and hook-ridden lead single Tonightless. Ken (Floyd, guitarist) wrote that while we were making Obsession, says guitarist Keith Barney. We didnt think much about it at the time because we didnt need any more songs for that album, but you could hear that it had a huge hook. He brought it back to the table for this record and we all agreed that it had to be on there. Its a little psalm I wrote after getting stood up, muses Floyd. I was really hurt and lonely and defined those feelings as being tonightless. I have trouble communicating my emotions without a guitar and that night really affected me. Its also the only song Ive ever written about a girl. James did a great job of playing with the lyrics and translating the personal to the universal. Musically that song is a bit different for us, adds Hart. But we didnt want to hold anything back with this record. Everyone was encouraged to contribute, whether they brought something that sounded like Goo Goo Dolls or Cannibal Corpse. No matter what the idea, it would get listened to and worked on. The progress evident on Tonightless and several other new songs convinced producer Machine that he had to work with the group, who, likewise, were willing to take a chance with him. We talked to a lot of producers, and we knew Machine had done some metal and hardcore records that we liked, but we were going for a big rock album, explains Barney. The other guys we talked with were cool, but they didnt have the drive. When we sat down with Machine, his enthusiasm was just over the top. He understood us and our goal, and he wanted it way more than anyone else. According to Hart, the producer was key in helping him achieve his personal goal of becoming a better singer. I wanted to establish my own style, so it was really important for me to strengthen my voice and project different tones and inflections. Machine was a huge help in getting me there. Harts ambitions are reflected throughout the entire album, which is easily Eighteen Visions most diverse selection of material to date. The most distinct example of the groups desire to push at the boundaries of heavy rock is the rhapsodic Brokenhearted, an intoxicatingly bittersweet song about lost love. The title tells it all, says Barney. I wrote it about an ex-girlfrienda five-year relationship that didnt just end badly, it was a life-changing event. Hart admits that everyone in the band was originally afraid of the song. It was almost scrapped because it was such a departure from anything Eighteen Visions had ever done, but the more we worked on it, the better we felt about it. At the other end of the spectrum is Victim, which incorporates a healthy amount of Eighteen Visions precise, relentlessly aggressive metalcore foundation. We finished that one a week before Machine came into the picture, recalls the vocalist. It has a vintage rock vibe in the verses and a big, in-your-face feel in the chorus. That song turned out to be a monster. The singer also points to Last Night as another new favorite, calling it Eighteen Visions rock throwback ballad. But its subject matter was hardly the stuff of standard slow tunes. I was in a very, very dark place when I wrote that, says Hart. There was a death in the family, which was something I had never dealt with before. Its a very important and emotional song for me. Having whittled some 30-odd songs down to 12, Eighteen Visions worked on both coasts to record the albumfrom the legendary Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles to the producers own Machine Shop in New Jersey. And now that the record is finished, the band is eager to play it live for fans this spring, summer and beyond. The self-assurance that explodes out of EIGHTEEN VISIONS has extended into the bands entire vision for the project. I see really big things for this record, says Barney. Weve been getting a lot of positive feedback and it feels like the planets have aligned for us. Were totally excited about how it came out and cant wait to take it on the road. I think its gonna be fucking huge. |
18V 2007 Dates!
April 19 - San Diego, CA - Soma (with The Dear And Scarlet Grey) April 20 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction (with Pierce The Veil, The Dear and Departed) |
Do you have 18V tattoo?
The band wants to see it! And they want to feature you on their site! Send in a photo of your Eighteen Visions tattoo to tattoos@eighteenvisions.com, along with your name or nickname plus your city/state/country information. Check out 18V Ink! Thanks to everyone for sending in their photos! John Perez Laguna Hills, California  alissa leas greenville ohio  Crystal, 18 White Hall, Arkansas, USA  Val Brooklyn, NY  Chris Watson Buffalo, NY  lara renee  Sarah Albuquerque, NM  name: ken floyd city: huntington beach, ca tattoo: wug <3 ken  Natalie Franklin Southern CA   Katherine Portsmouth, UK  Anonymous: I took the 8 from 18 Visions to use in my tattoo for my year of the rabbit tattoo. I dunno if you want it but it does have a little piece of 18 Visions love in it. Thanks  Jesse Hoch- Schmidtka Canastota, NY  Marc Motley Whitter, CA  Johnsey Huntington Beach, CA  Reva Nemes Albuquerque, NM   cursed666  Steph, Raleigh, NC, USA  Kathleen Del Rossi Herkimer, NY  Rich Shook Pittsburgh, PA  Kimiko Ichikawa Hashima-city Gifu pref JAPAN  CJ Whittier, CA  Maria manteca, california, united states  Danielle Pittman (aka "ducky")  Alex Ramirez   Anthony Rinaldi Los Angeles, CA  |
MEDIA PLAYER:
Click here to launch the 18V media player where you can hear clips from the new album, click to watch the "Victim" video and more! Plus you can email or IM it to your friends! VIDEOS: "Victim"   Check out the brand new Eighteen Visions video for "Victim" here! STUDIO UPDATES: Studio Update Archive - Vocal Tracking(#4) Watch James Hart work on vocal tracking! Studio Update Archive - Bass Tracking (#3) Watch the band in the studio working on bass tracking! Studio Update Archive - Guitar Tracking (#2) In case you missed it when it was first posted, check out the band in the studio working on guitar tracking! Studio Update Archive - Drum Tracking (#1) In case you missed it when it was first posted, check out the band in the studio working on drum tracking! EIGHTEEN VISIONS (2006)
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 CLICK ON AN IMAGE FOR A LARGER VERSION PHOTOS FROM WHEN JAMES TOSSED OUT FIRST PITCH AT RANGERS GAME (September 22, 2006):
PHOTOS FROM WARPED TOUR - TINLEY PARK, IL (2006): Photos from Lollipop Magazine.
PHOTOS FROM VIRGIN IN-STORE PERFORMANCE IN ORANGE, CA (July 19, 2006):
PUBLICITY PHOTOS:
CLICK ON A BAND MEMBER FOR MORE IMAGES OF THEM:
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