LIONIZE, ROCK, SOUL AND BLUES BAND, SET TO PERFORM ON THE VANS WARPED TOUR ALL SUMMER LONG; NEW ALBUM ‘JETPACK SOUNDTRACK’ OUT NOW ON WEATHERMAKER MUSIC

DT:      MARCH 20, 2014

FR:      LIBBY COFFEY/BARI LIEBERMAN/ANDREA FAULK/MSO PR

LIONIZE
—ROCK, SOUL AND BLUES BAND—
SET TO PERFORM ON THE VANS WARPED TOUR
ALL SUMMER LONG

NEW ALBUM
‘JETPACK SOUNDTRACK’
 OUT NOW ON WEATHERMAKER MUSIC

LIONIZE photo: http://msopr.com/files/lionize_band_med_res.JPG

“…great things have arrived in the form of a tightly sequenced, beautifully produced collection that deepens the band’s ability to bring weathered hard rock tropes screaming into the present tenses, via an infusion of soul and blues.”

–Jeff Miers, BUFFALO NEWS, March 15, 2014

As the rock, soul and blues band LIONIZE prepare to head back out on the road in April, the group–NATE BERGMAN (vocals/guitar), HENRY UPTON (bass/vocal), CHRIS BROOKS (keyboards & vocals) and CHASE LAPP (drums)–have announced they’ll perform all summer long on the VANS WARPED TOUR, launching June 13 in Houston, TX. 

“We are very excited to return to the Vans Warped Tour as alumni in 2014,” LIONIZE frontman NATHAN BERGMAN states. “With a variety of talented bands and new attractions this year, we are really looking forward to bringing some loud and funky Rock and Roll to the festival.  See you all summer long!”

Hailing from Silver Spring, MD–near the Washington, D.C. stomping ground of their hardcore idols—LIONIZE recently released their new album JETPACK SOUNDTRACK on Weathermaker Music, the label owned and operated by Maryland rock group Clutch. Co-produced by Jean-Paul Gaster, drummer of Clutch, and Machine (Fall Out Boy, Lamb of God, King Crimson) at the Machine Shop in Belleville, New Jersey, the album finds the group creating an 11-song journey through their multi-faceted musical influences–spanning heavy rock, soul and blues–such as Deep Purple, O. V. Wright, Led Zeppelin and Solomon Burke. The album’s first single “Reality Check” showcases LIONIZE’s precise musicianship; they smoothly shift gears and smack you with a gargantuan hook at an exhilarating pace.  Listen to “Reality Check” here: http://lionizemusic.com.

Who is LIONIZE? Watch the following clip where VANS WARPED TOUR founder Kevin Lyman and a group of their peers, introduce the band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpHCqjPoAGE&feature=youtu.be

Check out what critics are saying so far about LIONIZE:

“Lionize infuses a soulful Southern gospel element into their sound with the inclusion of a stabbing Hammond organ. The keyboards are more than superfluous texture, acting like a second axe. Lyrically, Lionize delves into a world of robotic sci-fi and fantasy. On paper, the symbolism of stiff, heavy cyborgs doesn’t mesh with the fluid basslines, rich vocal harmonies, and snappy drum fills, but Lionize pulls it off on songs such as ‘Replaced with Machines’ and ‘Skynet.’ Album ender ‘Sea of Tranquility’ even bathes in reggae worship.”

–Joshua Bottomley, OUTBURN, (9-out-of 10 stars, April, 2014)

“Mixing ’70s-influenced hard rock with funky grinding dub into a rather intoxicating brew, DC outfit Lionize offers a surprisingly strong departure… guitar textures trade between fuzzy distorted riffs, wet drops of wah wah notes and piercing fret-jumping solos, thick bass and heavy organ create a robust bed of dub-laced grooves, and the tuneful sandpaper-chafed vocals of Nate Bergman wheels over top of it all. Lionize has earned much street cred in their eight-year tenure, serving as touring band for Lee “Scratch” Perry, warming up the stage on tour with such diverse and respected acts as Bad Brains and Galactic, playing both Bonnaroo and the Vans Warped Tour and issuing albums all throughout.”

—CREATIVE LOAFING (1/20/14) 

“Lionize is a tenacious hard-working band with moxy and talent. Framing themselves within an imaginative palette of groove-heavy drumming, rippling rock riffs, and smatterings of eyebrow raising dub reggae, these elements congeal to form a refreshing addition to the rock lexicon.”

–Oscar Jordan, THE ROCK RAG (Los Angeles, CA, March 2014)

“Maryland seems to be a hotbed of musical volcanic activity over the last few years. But for the last 10 years or so, Lionize have been blazing a path of their own with their hard rock and reggae style first shown to me by Bad Brains some 30-plus years ago. I’d say they have become the next ambassadors of those elements I just mentioned.”

–Steve Truglio, AQUARIAN WEEKLY (3/5/14)

“[On Jetpack Soundtrack], Deep Purple organ runs and big Southern rock shout-along choruses for its most complete statement so far.”

–Matthew Everett, METRO PULSE (Knoxville, TN, 3/17/14)

“…an unrelenting blast of soulful fury that denies to be constricted to a single specific genre.”

–Dan Ursem, MIRROR NEWS (Dearborn, MI, 3/3/14)

“With amps cranked and drums the concert-goers could feel in their chests, Lionize had the audience rocking harder than anticipated for a Thursday evening. Guitarist and lead singer Bergman was at the top of his game, in full control of fuzzed out guitar riffs and a voice that ranged from soulful shouts to bluesy, Black Keys-like vocals. The rest of the band performed excellently as well, and showcased their individual talent as well as their ability to perform as a unit. The performance overall was marked by a level of cohesiveness that only comes with experience, and Lionize has paid its dues.”

–Trent Burns, THE AMERICAN EAGLE, (Washington, DC, 2/24/14)

“Lionize is a Maryland-based band that never stops amazing fans with every album released.[ On Jetpack Soundrack,] Lionize’s new funky rock style will make metal lovers stop and take notice. ‘Reality Check’ is the first single released off of ‘JetPack’ and has a hip, upbeat feel with a lively chorus.”

–Krash Kiten,HEAR MAGAZINE (Detroit, MI, 2/13/14) 

“On the new record, Lionize’s unique sound leans heavily towards groove-based, funk infused jam-rock reminiscent of old-school Red Hot Chili Peppers-with a twist of organ. Standout tracks include ‘Reality Check,’ a dark and dangerous sounding song driven by alternating guitar and organ hooks, and ‘Replaced by Machines’ which showcases the talent of the band both as a unit and as individual musicians. Lionize has been playing music together for 10 years now, and they’ve made a point to show that off on their latest album. Jetpack Soundtrack sees the band at their tightest thus far and makes for a cohesive—although wild–ride through all 11 tracks. RIYL: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age, Foxy Shazam.”

–Trent Burns, THE AMERICAN EAGLE (Album review, Washington, DC, 2/20/14)

“Jetpack Soundtrack may be their best work to date with added depth, power, and creativity relative to their previous work…Lionize deliver great songs with a mulit-layered invigorating sound.”

–Gideon Thomas, CRYTPICROCK.COM, (3/6/14) 

“…with Jetpack Soundtrack, Lionize have developed a style of Jam Band music for a new generation. They take groove-heavy hard rock mix in some dark reggae and add a touch of Clutch sounding stony rock… Jetpack Soundtrack is a solid album from beginning to end.”

—NATIONALROCKREVIEW.COM, (2/17/14)

Catch LIONIZE on the road in the following cities:

http://lionizemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/LIONIZEMUSIC
https://twitter.com/LionizeMusic
http://weathermakermusic.com
http://www.msopr.com/n/client-roster/lionize

Cover artwork: http://msopr.com/files/jetpack_soundtrack_cover_art_low_res.jpeg.

About LIONIZE:
The Maryland-based band LIONIZE formed in 2004, learning to play music by jamming and listening to each other. Now, ten years later, the band has matured into a much more powerful, unit. Whether touring extensively in the past on a limited budget, or playing to 10,000 people at the majestic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, LIONIZE always seems to look for a challenge. Space Pope And The Glass Machine (2008) revealed their affinity for reggae. Destruction Manual (2011) and their last album Superczar And The Vulture (2011) broadened into a more multifaceted musical direction by incorporating rock, soul and blues influences–such as Deep Purple, O. V. Wright, Led Zeppelin and Solomon Burke–that became the proverbial keys for taking the Weathermaker Music machine out for a late night joyride. LIONIZE first supported Clutch in 2006 and they found a shared regard of music as a sacred cultural and intellectual art form, particularly jazz and rock and roll. That bond endeared the younger band to their seasoned patrons. Weathermaker Music–the label established by Clutch–eventually signed the band and the forthcoming JETPACK SOUNDTRACK is their first release of a new artist on the label.

Read the Q&A with LIONIZE frontman NATE BERGMAN on ArtistDirect here: http://tinyurl.com/matol3v.

Watch the video for “Dr. Livingston” (off their previous Superczar and the Vulture album) featuring cameos from H.R. of Bad Brains, CKY’s Jess Margera, the Pietasters and the 9.30 Club Crew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUtKHAHTW78

LIONIZE with H.R. of Bad Brains.

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