Artist: ANTI-MORTEM
Album: NEW SOUTHERN LTD. EDIT. (DIGI)

Year: 2014
Media type: CD

What the American hard rock and metal scene needs right now is an infusion of youth and some new blood coursing through its veins. Enter ANTI-MORTEM and their upcoming debut album, »New Southern«. An Oklahoma quintet whose combined average age is just 21-years-old, ANTI-MORTEM were raised on southern rock and heavy metal, and driven by a hunger to make an impact. The band dole out bottom heavy and groove-laden heavy rock anthems, and as with all the metal greats they've learned from, a modern sense of melody infuses every track. Also present and accounted for - southern swagger, courtesy of the band's roots and upbringing.

Singer Larado Romo, who sings with the vim and vitriol of a younger, more virile version of MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine, and the range of DISTURBED's David Draiman, reveals the band's simplest goal and that's to drag rock 'n' roll back to the forefront. "Hard rock is stagnating," he acknowledges. "We want people to think, 'Rock has balls again.'"

That's quite a bold statement, but ANTI-MORTEM have the musical cojones, the chops and the songs to back such a claim up. It's not just lip service or bravado. It's their M.O. and what drives them.

ANTI-MORTEM, whose name is based on the Latin term "Antemortem" (which means “preceding death“), can trace their humble beginnings back to 2008. Larado was a middle-schooler and the rest of his now-bandmates were in high school. He was drafted into the mix by his older brother, guitarist Nevada. Despite the difference in age, the members meshed because underneath it all, they were merely music fanatics who loved playing their instruments and enjoyed listening to classic rock. They were fully immersed in the rock of the '70s, '80s and '90s. Then they discovered metal and the rest is ANTI-MORTEM history.

The band spent formative nights and weekends woodshedding their sound on the concert stage they built themselves in the Smith family barn (originally intended to store an old car collection). While Smith’s parents were away working on the weekends, ANTI-MORTEM would turn their barn rehearsal space into a makeshift venue and find their live legs by inviting friends and family in Chickasha over for an afternoon of gravel-throated vocals, crunch-laden riffs, thick grooves, and some good ol’-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Before long, they found themselves on real concert stages opening locally for the likes of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, and performing at the destination event Rocklahoma. But they are itching to hit the road and live in a tour vehicle and convert fans to the new church of rock that is »New Southern«. 

TRACKLIST:

1 - Words Of Wisdom 4:23  
2 - New Southern 4:05 
3 - 100% Pure American Rage 3:36  
4 - Hate Automatic 3:57 
5 - Black Heartbeat 3:43 
6 - I Get Along With The Devil 2:57 
7 - Path To Pain 3:34 
8 - Wake Up 3:23 
9 - Ride Of Your Life 3:50 
10 - Stagnant Water 4:44 
11 - Truck Stop Special 4:04 
12 - Jonesboro 4:18 
13 - A Little Too Loose 5:19

LINE-UP:

Larado Romo | Vocals
Zain Smith | Guitar
Nevada Romo | Guitar
Corey Henderson | Bass
Levi Dickerson | Drums