Rival State Rival State returns with a new sound and a new aesthetic, but with the same passion that was there when the band name was first brain stormed in a 3rd form English book way back in 2002. Like all stubborn teenagers first out of home the band ended up parting ways in 2007 to experience music from a different perspective. Somehow long grueling van tours across North America and Europe and living on the bones of their arses, led to the guys crossing paths. In April of 2011 four out of the five members of Rival State returned home to New Zealand after a lengthy 5-year stint overseas in Canada and Europe. The guys decided to return home to reform their High School band with original singer Luke Van Hoof who for that time period was playing in NZ band Kids of 88 “We had a legitimate discussion one night via Skype and after seconds of Hello's…how are yah's…Rival State was back in action” says Stefan Einarsson. “We decided to stop fighting the inevitable and return to what we've always loved most and write the songs that we all wanted to write; No Limitations, No Rules, Just pure hunger to get a point across” The first offering from the upcoming record is single 'Sleep Talker' this track is loaded with killer riffs, high-powered grooves, and anthemic vocals. It’s a three and a half minute race to the end. The band began writing for their upcoming record mid 2011 working with British producer Matt Hyde who has also worked with the likes of Trivium, Slipknot, Funeral for a Friend and Ash just to name a few. "We chose to write this record in our home town of New Plymouth surrounded by our family and friends and what better place to write a record then where it all began" says Jo Einarsson. Rival State’s debut album is due to drop in May 2012 through Shock Records. "You can expect a very diverse record with no repeats of stale ideas but a joint union of rock n roll, punk, pop and grunge. We wrote the record we had always envisioned combined with sounds, tones, and ideas we had been experimenting with over our time apart. We believe we have written a record that is new, fresh, and we are extremely proud of it and feel it is worth a listen!" says Luke Van Hoof. Band Members: Nimal Fernando, Valdi Einarsson, Luke Van Hoof, Jo Einarsson, Stefan Einarsson The Rabble Like a banner of hope rising in the midst of a battalion of soldiers; The Rabble hit the scene - joining in the march of a new generation. With an onslaught of soulful Punk Rock, they paint a picture of spirit in the face of adversity - with tales of life, death, love and hate. The unrelenting trio, originating from Auckland City, New Zealand: dedicate their lives to bringing the enthusiasm back to Rock ‘n Roll - taking their anthemic, barbed-wire assault to the Northern Hemisphere this year. Forget the stereotypes - this is a band who’s sound is tearing down the barriers of commercial mediocrity! The story begins with brothers Chazz and Rupe in the monotonous summer of ‘01 - at the young and angst-ridden ages of 14 and 15. With the sounds of ‘77 reverberating in their souls and out of a sheer desperation for something other than what a day-to-day society has to offer - The Rabble were born! Eight years and hundreds of live shows later; the band are as resilient as ever - having survived multiple line-up changes, coming out humbled, with a fierce determination and without ever losing their vision, their integrity, or more importantly - their core-songwriters… Current day see’s the brothers teaming up with Jamie Douglass on bass guitar. Having paid his dues on the stage in another local Punk Rock outfit: the fire is there and with refreshed and solid bass-lines once again behind the beat - The Rabble is at the top of their game! Look out for the band this year in a city near you, as they tour relentlessly in support of their latest delivery: ‘The Battle’s Almost Over’ - “a coming of age record for the band, one that sees it transcend the boundaries of routine but good Punk Rock and move into the territory reserved for genre-defining innovators.” [Scannerzine] ‘The only future is the one you make!’ Band Members: Chazz Rabble (vocals, guitar) Rupert Rabble (vocals, drums) Jamie Rabble (bass, vocals)
