Photo by: Jim Wertman
Official press release:
Born out of Troy, NY’s infamous hardcore scene, Brick By Brick – featuring Mike Valente (guitars), Andy Parsons (bass), Ray Mazzola (vocals, ex-Full Blown Chaos), and James Muller (drums) – have relentlessly cultivated their reputation as a staple force of hybrid hardcore metal. Solidifying and reviving their sound in recent years with the addition of Mazzola on vocals, the band’s perspective is fresh with formidable intent.
Brick By Brick return in 2019 with their seventh studio album, Hive Mentality – an onslaught of brutal ferociousness. The album is scheduled to be released on February 22, 2019 via Upstate Records, and will be available to pre-order via major digital retailers beginning January 11. Visit the pre-order landing page here: UpstateRecordsNY.com.
Produced by Jason Bourdeau, the album was recorded at Overit Media in Albany, NY, with mastering by legendary Alan Douches of West West Side Music.
Check out a brand new Hive Mentality album teaser now via YouTube:
Raising a massive middle finger to the establishment, Hive Mentality is a battle cry to all that is wrong with the world, yet signifying that all is right with heavy music convergence. Epitomizing the tone of the title track Hive Mentality, track guest Jessica Pimentel(Alekhine’sGun vocalist, Orange is the New Black actress) seethes “Get the fuck out of the way or get trampled,” with a ranting rage. Based upon true events, track five, entitled “Bar Is Open”, sums up Brick By Brick flawlessly in their declaration of, “We live to drink/We love to fight/We bring the party/Rage through the night.” That statement is further emphasized by none other than guest vocalist Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste, Iron Reagan). The Acacia Strain‘s Vincent Bennett further exudes the savagery of Hive Mentality with his vocal spot on “In The Ruins”, before the album reaches its apex with a blistering rendition of Motörhead‘s “Iron Fist”, a sonically-heated kick like a belt of Jack that Lemmy himself would have savored and tipped his hat to.
Vocalist Ray Mazzola says:
“It was an honor to have our guest vocalists join us for this album. We wrote it knowing all along that Tony from Municipal Waste/Iron Reagan was going to sing on ‘Bar Is Open’, and it turned out that a few of the more thrash-edged songs were inspired by him. Vincent of The Acacia Strain agreed to redo an old tune of ours, ‘In The Ruins’, that was featured as a limited edition run that he collaborated with us on. It needed to be heard internationally. Last but not least, Jessica Pimentel from Orange Is The New Black/Alekhine’s Gun was a perfect choice for the middle rant on Hive Mentality, portraying anger from a woman’s perspective.”
Brick By Brick brings one metal riff after another, interwoven with slamming breakdowns and a relentlessly rhythmic battering. Hive Mentality transcends beyond genres – it embraces the angst within each soul from any heavy music scene and brings solace to every metalhead, muscle head, hardcore kid, and old school punk who’s been internally bleeding and eternally screaming in defiance.
Hive Mentality track listing:
- “Hive Mentality” feat. Jessica Pimentel
- “Bad Sign”
- “Toe to Toe”
- “Battleground”
- “Bar Is Open” feat. Tony Foresta
- “Never to Wake”
- “In The Ruins” feat. Vincent Bennett
- “Slave to the Grind” (Skid Row cover)
- “Iron Fist” (Motörhead cover)
