14 February 2014 - 1 Comment
With their new single, Love the Way You Hate Me, smashing its way onto American airwaves, Kiwi rock band, Like A Storm have now achieved more successful US hard rock singles than any other New Zealand band in history.
And now the band made up of Auckland born brothers Chris, Kent and Matt Brooks are set to release their sophomore album, Chaos Theory: Part 1 on Friday, March 21.
Combining crushing baritone guitar riffs, ambient textures, and their three vocal attack, Like A Storm's sound has been described as dark, yet uplifting.
Due to the band's chaotic tour schedule, Chaos Theory: Part 1 was recorded in backstage rooms and hotels all across the US. "Basically we didn't sleep for two months straight," laughs singer Chris Brooks. "After every show we would wheel two carts full of recording equipment into our hotel rooms, asking the staff to put us as far away from the other guests as possible."
While initially proving to be something of a logistical nightmare, recording an album while on tour turned out to be hugely positive for the band.
"It was actually a really awesome way to make a record," says Matt. "Walking offstage every night and going straight into making our new album really enabled us to capture all the energy of our live show."
Recording outside of the constraints of the regular studio environment also gave Like A Storm the freedom to realise their ambitious vision - an album where hard rock contrasts haunting acoustics, and progressive metal collides with the primal tones of the didgeridoo - all while retaining the powerful, meaningful lyrics that the band are known for.
Ironically, the album's explosive first single, Love the Way You Hate Me was never intended to be a single. But after Michigan station 101.5FM The Banana unexpectedly spun the song one night on their "Cagematch" song competition, listeners responded overwhelmingly. Love the Way You Hate Me went on to win every night for over a month until it was retired from the competition - shattering the station's existing record. Radio stations all over North America started taking notice of the song and with its unique musical statement, Love the Way You Hate Me grabbed the attention of rock fans all over North America. The song is at New Zealand radio now. See the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xhubIqV1CI.
Since their debut album, The End Of The Beginning in 2009, Like A Storm have created a compelling musical catalogue and earned the reputation as one of rock's hardest working bands. Five years of relentless touring has seen them share American stages with rock giants Creed, Korn, Alter Bridge, Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown and many others. As a result, the band of Kiwi brothers has developed one of the most loyal fan bases in the country, and are now a headline act in their own right. Like A Storm's diehard fans - many of whom are inked in the band's artwork and lyrics - are widely known to travel huge distances, and show up hours early, to see the band play at some of the most iconic rock venues in the US.
The band is currently in New Zealand writing material for their new album, Chaos Theory: Part 2, and will return Stateside in March to kick off their next American tour.
Chaos Theory: Part 1 is released on Friday, March 21 and can be pre-ordered now from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/chaos-theory-pt.-1/id818930254?uo=4&at=11l9Dh&Ct=LikeaStormChaosTheoryPROMO and JB Hi-Fi http://shop.jbhifi.co.nz/music/pop-rock/chaos-theory-part-1-ep/76274.
Chris Brooks - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Didgeridoo, Keys/Programming
Matt Brooks - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keys/Programming
Kent Brooks - Bass, Vocals, Keys/Programming
If you don't have any of their cds, make sure you get them!!
Thanks to The Rock for spreading Chris, Kent and Matt's music all over their homeland of New Zealand!! We can't wait for them to get ba k to the U.S.!! :):):)