5-19-09

I'm very excited about this release. I was in the studio yesterday putting the finishing touches on some of the vocals. Robert's guitar tone on this album is crushing! Alan's drum work is some of the best you will have ever heard on an Ultimatum record. Our producer, Ysidro Garcia, who also produced "Into the Pit" and the demo tracks on "...'til the End", has come up with one heavy sound for us.

We ended up with 13 songs out of a list of over 50 songs. Obviously, not every song I wanted to cover made it onto the record. However, the songs we did record are a good smattering of influences on us. We have a few more obscure bands such as The Moshketeers, and some well known bands such as Metallica and Megadeth. A couple of the songs were taken from suggestions on the board here as well.

With some of the songs, we took a lot of liberties and really turned the song into our own. We chose one of the slower Megadeth songs from one of their less popular albums, but we double timed the tempo of the song, added in our own flare, my vocals, Robert's guitar solos, etc. and the song becomes something completely new. I think people will be surprised by how heavy this song is, as well as how it sounds like Ultimatum while paying homage to Megadeth at the same time.

A few songs, such as "Creeping Death" we took less liberties with and kept the song pretty much how it was written. This song and a couple others just seems to fit us as it is.

Many of the other songs, such as The Moshketeers "Locked in Chains" and others, we kept the basic song structure the same but added in some of our own flare, making minor changes and adjustments to fit our style. On this song in particular, Alan supercharged the drum work from the original adding in some double bass work, Robert added in some extra guitar solos and added some dissonant chords to give some parts a harsher, heavier sound.

Of course, my vocals are my vocals and don't really sound like Paul Scozzafava, nor did I try to sound like him. This is the case with the entire album, I tried to keep the original feel of the song, while at the same time singing in my own style. On some songs, such as the Vengeance Rising cover, I went for that heavy, aggressive sound like I did when I sang for Once Dead. However, on others I went for a much higher, shrill sound, not unlike the vocals on Into the Pit.

It looks like the release date will be in early July. Pre-orders will begin soon. Those who pre-order the CD will be given a free Headbanging 101 CD as well. I'll post info on pre-orders as soon as I can.

Ultimatum will not have early copies for sale. Those wishing to buy directly from the band after the release date, I will also give ordering info to. Copies from the band will be autographed by all four band members.

Nice - I will put in my order! Can't wait to hear what Headbanging 101 is - a link to no life til metal?

This is one of the few this year I'll be able to buy without hearing even one note before hand. It's a no-brainer. Excited!

Looking forward to this one. I'm a big fan of cover/tribute albums.

Bring it on fellas!! :metal:

I'm buying this from the band. I already have the compilation CD.

I think might be a new volume in the Headbanging 101 series.

i HOPE THE PRE-ORDERS are directly from the band. I like support some bands directly from them.

Hey scott make some banners to promote the new album.

I'll have some banners soon. Just waiting on Retroactive to give me the OK.

No, the pre-orders are from Retroactive.

I'm definitely picking this up. Really enjoyed the Moshketeers cover song.

I'm looking forward to this cd!!! :metal:

Man, this CD's production is moving along very nicely!

I had the privilege of attending a background vocals recording session this evening, where I got to hear the latest mixes of most of the songs that will be on this bad boy....






Want to know what they are? Huh?

Ok.





Here's what I got to hear, and they were sweeeet:

Overkill's "Powersurge"
Metal Church's "Ton of Bricks"
Quiet Riot's "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)"
Saxon's "Denim & Leather"
Motorhead's "Iron Fist"
Twisted Sister's "Sin After Sin"
Vengeance Rising's "Can't Get Out"
Metallica's "Creeping Death"
Megadeth's "Moto Psycho"
Judas Priest's "Steeler"

:metal:


I could go on about how each song sounds, but I don't wanna give it ALL away, heh heh.... Let's just say that they've all been officially Ultimatized, and they KICK YOU IN THE FACE WITH BOTH FEET.

Sorry. Only invited a handful of people. Metalheaded has been part of Ultimatum for a long time. I think Robert took some video of last night's session. I'm sure he'll be posting it on YouTube.

When did QUIET RIOT song was suggested? it wasn't on scott's or Rob's list as far as I remember

Nice to see Moto Psycho on there, I figured it'd be a song off The World Needs A Hero. I'm chomping at the bit to see how you Ultimatized that one.