| Soulbender | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Soulbender | |
| Released | May 22, 2004 |
| Recorded | 2003 / 2014 |
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Length | 48:58 |
| Label | Licking Lava Records Rat Pak Records |
| Producer | Eric Janko and Soulbender |
Soulbender is the only studio album by the American-Canadian metal band of the same name. Originally released in 2004, it was re-released with additional recordings in 2014.
Background and recording
Soulbender features Michael Wilton, founding guitarist of Queensrÿche, and Nick Pollock, former vocalist of My Sister's Machine. The album was recorded at three different studios in Washington: Triad (drums and bass), which also mixed the album, Watershed (guitars), and Slow Time (vocals). This album was co-produced by the band themselves and engineer Eric Janko. It was mastered by Eddy Schreyer, who has worked with artists such as Alice in Chains and Slipknot.
Release and reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 7.5/10 |
| Jukebox Metal (Soulbender II) |    |
| Melodic (Soulbender) | |
| Metal Temple (Soulbender II) | 7/10 |
The album was independently released through Licking Lava Records on May 22, 2004. Steve Newton of The Georgia Straight has described the music on this album being "a tad darker than either of those bands (Queensrÿche and My Sister's Machine) are noted for." Sefany Jones, a contributing editor of KNAC, listed the album among her Top 15 albums of 2004; it came in at Number Two.
Rerelease
In 2014, Blabbermouth.net reported that the band were planning to release Soulbender II, containing four new songs and remasters of all tracks on Soulbender, through Rat Pak Records. The album also included updated cover art. Tony Sison of The Dedicated Rocker Society hailed Soulbender II as a "balls to the wall recording from start to finish."
Track listing
All tracks written by Soulbender.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fix Me" | 4:40 |
| 2. | "Clockwork and Compass" | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Rabbit Hole" | 4:32 |
| 4. | "The American Dream" | 6:43 |
| 5. | "Samsara" | 3:06 |
| 6. | "Prime Time" | 3:24 |
| 7. | "Shoot Poem" | 6:20 |
| 8. | "This Ocean" | 4:07 |
| 9. | "Hunger" | 5:33 |
| 10. | "Three Towers" | 6:59 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Turn Anger Up" | 3:27 |
| 2. | "Shoal" | 6:31 |
| 3. | "Slave To Reality" | 3:35 |
| 4. | "Seraphim" | 6:36 |
Personnel
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References
- ^ "Soulbender Overview". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Roviallflower). Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ Soulbender (liner notes). Soulbender. Licking Lava Records. 2004. 8-25346-12792-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Eddy Schreyer Overview". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Roviallflower). Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- Van Horn, Jr., Ray (21 November 2014). "Soulbender-Soulbender II". Blabbermouth. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- Lye, Andy. "Soulbender II - Soulbender". Jukebox Metal. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- Roth, Kaj. "Soulbender – s/t". Melodic. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- Zakolska, Katarzyna. "Soulbender - Soulbender II". Metal Temple (website). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- Newton, Steve (August 12, 2004). "Soulbender Guitarist Happily Does Double Duty". The Georgia Straight. Vancouver Free Pass. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
- KNAC's Top CDs of 2004
- "Blabbermouth.Net - QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist MICHAEL WILTON's SOULBENDER To Release New Album". Roadrunnerrecords.com. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- Sison, Tony (September 19, 2014). "CD REVIEW: SOULBENDER II by Soulbender". The Dedicated Rocker Society Music Magazine. All Access Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2014.