'INNER DEMONS' CD Release Party 09.13.08!
DO NOT MISS THIS! On Saturday, September 13, 2008, SKULLSHIFTER will be hosting and playing at the Official Inner Demons CD Release Party and Metal BBQ! This unique, all-ages indoor and outdoor family matinee event will feature 2 of the NY Metro Area's top hard rock/metal cover bands -- BoneDaddy and Metal Finger (featuring CJ Scioscia and J McCaffrey, respectively) -- and headlined by SKULLSHIFTER, who will be performing tracks from their upcoming CD release Inner Demons. Free BBQ food, soda and water will be available for all throughout the day, with adult beverages at the bar for those 21 and over.
Doors open 1 pm, and the first band starts at 2:00. Bring the kids! This is your opportunity to stuff your face on free food, see 3 awesome bands, grab your copy of Inner Demons and score a brand new t-shirt before anyone else! Admission is just $5 at the door, and kids under 12 are free. There is no excuse not to be at this
one-of-a-kind event!
Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1 pm until ?
B.P.O. Elks Lodge, 951 Lincoln Ave. East, Cranford, NJ 07016
'INNER DEMONS'...our new CD...we're now underway!!
Hello there everyone...
Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know it's been like forever between updates. We've been real quiet, and with good reason. Over that span of time we've been scheduled a bunch of times to start recording our 2nd CD, and every time we've been foiled at the last minute. I've wanted to make postings saying we start the new CD this weekend, etc., but I'm glad I didn't because of the delays. Better to say nothing than continually look like a liar.
So the good news is WE'VE BEGUN RECORDING THE NEW CD!! We gathered in late September at my studio, Le Chateau Bow Wow Recording, and started tracking. Dan cut the drums to all 9 songs - no click tracks and he f**kin' nailed 'em!! No cheesing on the double-bass parts, no fixing in ProTools. His tracks are live, and they feel and sound great. We were so prepared for this that he did them all on the 1st or 2nd take. We probably took more time to set-up his kit and get the sounds than it took for him to play the songs. Preparation is a beautiful thing...
Next up are the rhythm guitars. I will get crackin' on those in the next couple of days, and Tom will start his immediately after. I'd like to get them done ASAP, but it'll have to be done between all the sessions I have coming up.
Here are the songs that we put down: Breaking Point; Day In The Sun; Etched In Sand; Exploiter; Forward Rearview; Last Mistake; The New Conspiracy; Strain; and Veil Of Deception. These will all make the album, although we've not decided on a running order. I believe the CD will be around 45 minutes long - classic 2-sided vinyl album length.
The title will be 'INNER DEMONS'. That was what 'HERE IN HELL' was supposed to be called, but once we changed that from a full-length to an EP, we pulled the original title. Now it will finally have its 'Day In the Sun'...
We will be handling everything ourselves this time. As much as we'd love to have Simon Efemey mix for us again, the reality is that the money is not there to do it. We are financing this ourselves, which means we've got aboot 10 bucks between us. ;-) We'll still have to worry aboot the mastering and pressing, although when it comes out we'll have our ducks in a row to have it available via the download providers. We'll still need some hard copies to send out for review, so we will press CDs. The first run just won't be as big.
So that's all for now. The updates will start to be much more frequent here. As work gets done we'll get y'all the news. I think this will come together quickly - my goal is to have all the tracking done by the end of the year, and then we'll spend early January mixing. That ought to give us time to put some money on the side for mastering. ;-)
Cheers! CJ
SKULLSHIFTER to appear on Versailles Records' Compilation,
Race Track Rock Vol. 1, in the Summer of 2007
If the smell of burning nitro, heart-stopping horsepower and ground-shaking sound get your blood boiling, then this is the compilation for you! SKULLSHIFTER has been selected to appear on Versailles Records' 'Race Track Rock Volume 1,' representing loud & proud with 'Engines' from the 'Here In Hell' ep. Here is the press release that fired up the band:
Versailles Records is seeking submissions from original rock and metal bands from around the world interested in having an original track of rock music that would thematically work well with racing for a forthcoming compilation entitled 'Race Track Rock Vol. 1' that will be distributed nationally and promoted specifically to the racing market. This release will be in stores in the summer of 2007.
SKULLSHIFTER...coming soon to a NASCAR track near you?!? Stay tuned for details and ordering info for the cd.
SKULLSHIFTER will be buring down the house again as we bring the Halloween evil SKULL-style on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at MURPHY'S CROCODILE INN, located in spooky Neshanic Station, NJ (look it up...it's not far!). But beware...the place is HAUNTED! Check it out:
Neshanic Station - Murphy's Crocodile Inn - Built in the 1880's, the Crocodile Inn has been subject to many ghostly activities. Lights turn on and off regularly and a dark shadowy figure is often seen in the basement. The inn is located at 102 Woodfern Rd., Neshanic Station by the post office and colorful train station.
-- from The Shadowlands
SKULLSHIFTER is appearing as special guest of fellow metal pyros THE VIVID TWISTED on a night that promises to be KILLER! We will be firing out at least 50 minutes of bone-rattling mayhem with a couple treats thrown in to keep things tasty. Come in costume, or go as your regular ugly-ass self...JUST BE THERE!
For details, contact SKULLSHIFTER or call the club at 908-369-4012. This is a 21 and over club.
Radio SKULLSHIFTER -- The WSOU Interview
SKULLSHIFTER's Here In Hell EP has been an increasingly popular staple on WSOU's long-running Street Patrol program since the band's on-air debut in November, 2005, so it was only a matter of time until our good friend and Street Patrol host EmoHead had the band come in to the studio for some quality time behind the mic at one of the country's most influential and steadfast underground music stations.
With the band actively promoting their appearance at the inaugural Brooklyn Metal Fest in June, 2006, (see SKULLSHIFTER's blog about the event here), it was the ideal opportunity for EmoHead to throw out some questions and see what SKULLSHIFTER could do with them. In typical fashion, the boys took the ball and ran all the way with it, using even the simplest questions as a springboard to launch into an unbelievable array of topics...from the formation of the band to the writing process to just about everything else...sending their message out to the station's 50,000 to 100,000 listeners for over half an hour. The evening also marked the broadcast premier of the band's pre-production demo of 'Strain.' (Click here to hear 'Strain' in clear, streaming audio on MySpace.)
As always, SKULLSHIFTER's professionalism and commitment shone in every answer. Clearly, this is a band that believes in what they do and gives their fans as much as they can at every opportunity -- onstage and off.
If you didn't get to hear it live and want to get a copy of a great interview, just send us an email and we'll get it out to you. In the meantime, continue to tune in to Street Patrol every Tuesday at 10pm and request SKULLSHIFTER!
SKULLSHIFTER Supports Our Troops
Regardless of how you feel about the ongoing military operation in Iraq, one fact cannot be denied: Americans are fighting and dying in a foreign land and anything we can do to take their minds off the grim task at hand is important. That's why SKULLSHIFTER jumped at the chance to include 50 copies of their 'Here In Hell' cd in a package to be shipped out to our troops courtesy of Cheap Ass Records, a friend of ours through MySpace. Our hope is that SKULLSHIFTER's music will at least provide some diversion for those whom are putting their lives on the line every day, and at most, that every one of those 50 cds will return to American soil in the hands of the soldiers who originally received them.
FINALLY! SKULLSHIFTER Web Site Updates Are Coming!
Blink your eyes and half a year's gone by. Unfortunately, that's the kind of HELL your devoted, yet overwhelmed Webmaster has been suffering through! While the site has been stagnant for quite a while, SKULLSHIFTER has NOT. Playing gigs, making great new contacts, working on new material, doing interviews, preparing for the album sessions, introducing new t-shirts (even one for the LADIES!)...the list goes on! We appreciate your patience, and now it's going to pay off. There will be plenty of new content on these cyber pages in the next few weeks, so be sure to check back regularly (once a week, at least!) to see what's going on. Also be sure to stop by our MySpace page for more up-to-the-minute SKULLSHIFTER news, and to hook up with a ton of people that are into SKULLSHIFTER and heavy music in general. You'll also have immediate access to not 1, but 2 FULL SKULLSHIFTER TRACKS in clear, streaming audio...PLUS 2 additional edited clips of tunes from the Here In Hell ep. It's definitely worth the trip!
Request SKULLSHIFTER on 89.5 FM WSOU's Street Patrol Program
Last Tuesday night (Nov. 29) SKULLSHIFTER made their radio debut on WSOU FM's 'Street Patrol' program, which is a weekly showcase for up-and-coming unsigned bands. Due to the huge amount of submissions this highly influential college station receives, every band that sends in a cd doesn't automatically make it to the airwaves. Bands that can get through the first stage of the selection process by the programming department are subjected to an on-air vote by the listeners in the 'Yank It or Crank It' segment, and we are STOKED to report that SKULLSHIFTER was overwhelmingly voted 'CRANK IT' with the phones quoted as 'ringing off the hook'. A big thank you goes out to all those listeners who were psyched enough to cast their vote for SKULLSHIFTER!
And now it's your turn! Tune in to 89.5 FM and catch the Street Patrol program every Tuesday from 10 pm to 12 midnight Eastern Time and request SKULLSHIFTER. You can even listen live via the web from anywhere in the world at the following location: WSOU 89.5 FM
WSOU FM has been playing metal on the campus of Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ since the '80s and has been a springboard for a great many bands, including metro area heroes BIOHAZARD and OVERKILL. Make sure to check it out soon!
CJ & Tom Speak Out in SKULLSHIFTER's First Published Interview
If you've ever wondered where the inspiration for the 3 songs on SKULLSHIFTER's debut ep 'Here In Hell' came from, how the band was able to secure the talents of producer Simon Efemey for the project, or what the significance is of the name SKULLSHIFTER, you can read all about it in an in-depth interview with SKULLSHIFTER lead guitarist CJ Scioscia and vocalist/guitarist Tom Nolz as conducted by Anders of Nocturnal Horde.
This is an extremely informative, revealing interview that covers a wide variety of topics in great detail, so you don't want to miss it. Read it all on our new INTERVIEWS page in the PIX & MORE section, or go directly to the Nocturnal Horde web site at this location: SKULLSHIFTER Interview
Thanks again to Anders and Nocturnal Horde for a great interview and continued support!
SKULLSHIFTER Delivers a Blistering Extended Set
Live at Room 13 @ Connections
Getting out onstage for the first time in over a year, SKULLSHIFTER laid it down hard this past Friday (actually Saturday morning!) at Room 13. While an unusually large crowd began the night, only the faithful remained by the time SKULLSHIFTER took the stage around 1am. And what they saw was an all-out assualt by SKULLSHIFTER doing what they do best...kicking major ass! A sudden tragedy forced DELIAN LEAGUE to drop off the bill at the last moment, leaving SKULLSHIFTER to carry the banner of real metal for the night and allowing the band to play 2 extra songs to a small but extremely appreciative crowd.
Special thanks go out to Quincy (Room 13 soundman) for doing a great job and for giving SKULLSHIFTER the opportunity to play on into the wee hours of the morning; to Rich from DELIAN LEAGUE and Joanne (Room 13 promoter) for getting us on the bill; to Chris from Metal, Beer, Horror and Anthony from Unstoppable Force for all their support; and to those that stuck around long enough to scream their guts out and let us know that REAL METAL will never die. CHEERS!
Click here for a great review/rant on the night's events courtesy of Chris from Metal, Beer, Horror.
SKULLSHIFTER Prepares to Destroy Room 13 @ Connections,
Friday, November 18th
Don't miss this opportunity to catch another crushing performance by SKULLSHIFTER as the band unleashes their aggressive metal onslaught live onstage at ROOM 13 @ CONNECTIONS in Passaic, NJ. Filling out the bill will be our good friends DELIAN LEAGUE...an outstanding up-and-coming band on the scene...along with SOTTO VOCE, ONE BRICK DOWN, and AMONG US.
Good news for some of our younger fans, too -- you can still get in if you're 18, and if you're 21 or older you can enjoy a beverage or 3 at the bar before SKULLSHIFTER hits the stage around 11 pm. Also keep your ears open for a brand new song in the set (it's called 'STRAIN'), along with the 3 tracks from the HERE IN HELL ep, plus others from the upcoming full-length cd. T-shirts and cd's will be available at REDUCED PRICES, so bring along some extra cash and stock up!
All in all, it's going to be a great night of METAL so you just gotta BE THERE! For club info and directions, click here and check out the gig flyer at this location.
HERE IN HELL EP Continues to Rack Up Great Reviews
Barely a month after its release, HERE IN HELL is already generating an overwhelmingly positive response among members of the underground metal press all over the world. And while every critic's opinion takes a different path, each arrives at the same conclusion...that the 3 song ep is only the beginning of more great things to come from SKULLSHIFTER and that the band is destined to have a serious impact on the metal scene in the near future.
Hit this link to go to our NEW REVIEWS page and see what the buzz is on SKULLSHIFTER.
And thanks again to all the writers who have taken the time to spread the word about SKULLSHIFTER. Cheers!
New Links Added, Blogging, and More!
Check out our growing LINKS page to connect with some of the great bands and 'zines helping to keep the metal scene surviving and thriving. And take a few minutes to scan (and post comments!) to our BLOG -- a great source of info and insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of the band, with many postings coming directly from none other than SKULLSHIFTER lead guitarist CJ Scioscia.
Check out the SKULLSHIFTER Blog
SKULLSHIFTER Sets September 20, 2005 Release Date
for 'HERE IN HELL'
With a killer-sounding master cd in hand (thanks to the outstanding efforts of Simon Efemey and Alan Douches) and the stunning graphics honed and fine tuned, only printing and duplication remain before SKULLSHIFTER's debut cd ep, 'Here In Hell', will be made available to hungry metal fans worldwide.
Each blistering cut on 'Here In Hell' presents a different facet of SKULLSHIFTER's menacing metallic fury. Huge riffs, scorching leads and distinctive vocals roar forward on a thunderous wave of bass and percussion with enough force to lay waste anyone and everything in SKULLSHIFTER's path.
ORDER YOURS TODAY!
NAPALM DEATH & OBITUARY at the Starland
CJ, Tom and J. made the trip down to the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ and caught a heavier-than-hell performance co-headlined by longtime band favorites NAPALM DEATH and OBITUARY on the second show in the grindcore/death pioneers' current US trek. A great show was witnessed and a good time was had by all both during the show and after, as the members of SKULLSHIFTER and ND got to spend time hanging out and shootin' the s***. An amazing band, and great guys too! Cheers and best wishes for a successful tour! Check out some pix at this location.
Wear It Loud & Proud!
SKULLSHIFTER T-Shirts Are Now Available!
Show the world your true metal spirit with your very own SKULLSHIFTER T-shirt! Heavy-duty Fruit of the Loom Lofteez shirts come in any color you want -- as long as it's black -- and feature a bold, eye-catching SKULLSHIFTER logo on the front and striking vintage 'Big Daddy Roth' style hot rod design on the back (designed and drawn by SKULLSHIFTER vocalist/guitarist Tom Nolz). These are great looking shirts that are made to last, with solid, high-quality, fade-resistant silkscreened images on a durable, comfortable 100% cotton T. Get yours NOW!
'I, Punishment' to Appear on BW&BK Compilation CD #91
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckels, one of metal's premier magazines, will be featuring the SKULLSHIFTER track 'I, Punishment' on the issue #91 'Knuckle Tracks' cd sampler due to hit newsstands on September 2, 2005. BW&BK reaches approximately 30,000 metal heads per issue, and SKULLSHIFTER is looking forward to the opportunity to recruit new fans by giving them a special sneak preview of the band's material before the official release of their 'Here In Hell' ep on September 20, 2005.
Following are news archives from the v1.0 SKULLSHIFTER web site
SKULLSHIFTER Switches Gears as the Master Tapes Land in the UK!
SKULLSHIFTER Closes in on Finishing INNER DEMONS
SKULLSHIFTER Recording Sessions Continue
CJ Scioscia Hits the Road with NAPALM DEATH
SKULLSHIFTER Kills at Hamilton Street Cafe (7.04)