Polish progressive rock trio SBB returns with new material! Full length album entitled “The Rock” will be released via Metal Mind Productions on the 5th November 2007 in Europe and on 22nd January 2008 in US (via MVD). As the title suggests, the band’s new music is as powerful as a rock. The follow up to the “New Century” album from 2005 was recorded in early Autumn in a refreshed line-up: Józef Skrzek, Apostolis Anthimos, Gabor Nemethis. Gabor is a very skilled drummer, known from his work with Hungarian bands Scorpió and P. Mobil. The final decision about the line-up change was made during the gig in the SÅ‚owianin Club in Szczecin (Poland) earlier this year. It was but their third concert in the new line-up but the warm reception proved it was the right step. Skrzek: “The new line-up means more dynamic and rock sound of SBB. It’s very likely that we will start to play older songs in their original arrangements without improvisations on their themes”. With the new album, the band surely get back to their roots. One can find on “The Rock” perfect catchy melodies, wonderful distorted walking bass, and the whole music draws from the years of SBB’s greatest popularity while, at the same time, bravely reaching into the future. The music featured on this album refers to one of the best periods in the band’s career, crowned with the release of “Memento z banalnym tryptykiem” (considered by many to be SBB’s opus magnum). Particular themes interlace and change and the songs relate to each other, thus constituting a single coherent story. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this is the best prog-rock album of the year 2007!
The Rock” is available in two formats: regular CD and a digipak CD with 2 bonus tracks.
Soon after premiere of “The Rock” album the band will hit the road to play several gigs in Poland. The highlight of the tour will take place at Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, where SBB will record the show for the purposes of their future live DVD release.
SBB
“The Rock”
Label: Metal Mind Records
Format: CD / CD Digipak
Cat. No.: MMP CD 0557
Barcode: 5907785030978
Cat. No.: MMP CD 0558 DG (CD Digipak)
Barcode: 5907785030985 (CD Digipak)
Genre: progressive rock
Release date: 05.11.2007 Europe / 22.01.2008 USA
Tracklist:
1. Skała
2. Płonące myśli
3. In Heaven And Hell
4. Silence
5. Sunny Day
6. My Paradise
7. Pielgrzym
8. Akri
9. Zug a zene mindenhol
Bonus tracks (available only on the digipak edition (MMP CD 0558 DG):
10. Åšpiewanie o imionach
11. Gazela
Bio
SBB is with no doubt a legend of Polish music scene. The band started in 1971 as Silesian Blues Band, then the musicians played for 2 years with CzesÅ‚aw Niemen in his group Niemen, to finally return as SBB in 1974. From that moment on, the three letters have meant Search-Break-Build. Till 1980, Józef Skrzek, Apostolis Anthimos and Jerzy Piotrowski have recorded dozens of albums in Poland and abroad, they gave hundreds of concerts all around Europe, sharing stages with Bob Marley (Roskilde Festival ’78), Elton John, Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Charles Mingus Dynasty, Jack Bruce Group, Thin Lizzy, Canned Heat, Omega or Klaus Szultze. In the early 90’s they returned in an extended line-up after almost 10-year break to play a series of concerts in USA. Another comeback took place in 1998, when Jerzy Piotrowski was replaced by Miroslaw Muzykant. 2 years later the drums were taken over by Paul Wertico, acclaimed as one of the best drummers in the world. For the previous 18 years he performed with Pat Metheny Group (on albums: First Circle, The Falcon and the Snowman, Still Life Talking, Letter from Home, Secret Story, The Road To You, We Live Here, Quartet, Imaginary Day). SBB started with blues, but fascinated with Mahavishnu Orchestra soon began to search for new means of expression. Gradually, music became more and more lyrical, and the band started to join wild, Hendrix-line energy with peaceful, gentle, calm moments. The band has soon worked out their own model of prog-rock, in which they skillfully mixed elements of classical music with jazz-rock instrumental frenzy. The albums that followed showed the band’s perfect evolution, bringing grand and marvelous music. “SBB – Anthology 1974-2004” box and “Lost Tapes, Vol. 1”, “Lost Tapes, Vol.2” were a certain summary of their career so far. The 2004 releases, especially the anthology, were received with real enthusiasm. It was the final “pro” for recording a new album “New Century” and the world tour. Jozef Skrzek, Apostolis Anthimos and Paul Wertico set to work on the record. In June 2005 New Century 2005 World Tour, Part 1 hit several cities in Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic. Sold out gigs and fantastic reception of new compositions proved that SBB were still at their best. The tour’s final gig took place in MiÄ™dzyzdroje at the Celerity Festival, during which the band was given Platinum Album award for the sale of “SBB – Anthology 1974-2004”. Then the band entered Zbigniew Preisner’s studio in NiepoÅ‚omice to record “New Century”. The album was made with the help of Mack – a world-famous producer, who had worked with Queen, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin. It was the first album in Poland recorded in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. Soon after releasing “New Century” album the band gave 3 great shows in Poland. The last one from Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice was recorded for the first DVD of SBB as a trio Skrzek-Wertico-Apostolis. Year 2006 marks their appearance as a support for the two Deep Purple shows in Poland. In March 2006 SBB headlined Baja Prog Festival, one of the most important progressive festivals in the world. In late August 2007 Metal Mind Productions released a 20-CD box with complete Skrzek’s solo discography starting from the 70s till today. The anthology includes electro-rock tracks, film music etc.
Year 2007 sees the release of SBB’s new album – “The Rock”. As the title suggests, the band’s new music is as powerful as a rock. The follow up to the “New Century” album from 2005 was recorded in early Autumn in a refreshed line-up: Józef Skrzek, Apostolis Anthimos, Gabor Nemethis. Gabor is a very skilled drummer, known from his work with Hungarian bands Scorpió and P. Mobil. Skrzek: “The new line-up means more dynamic and rock sound of SBB. It’s very likely that we will start to play older songs in their original arrangements without improvisations on their themes”. With the new album, the band surely get back to their roots. One can find on “The Rock” perfect catchy melodies, wonderful distorted walking bass, and the whole music draws from the years of SBB’s greatest popularity while, at the same time, bravely reaching into the future. The music featured on this album refers to one of the best periods in the band’s career, crowned with the release of “Memento z banalnym tryptykiem” (considered by many to be SBB’s opus magnum). Particular themes interlace and change and the songs relate to each other, thus constituting a single coherent story. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this is the best prog-rock album of the year 2007!The Rock” is available in two formats: regular CD and a digipak CD with 2 bonus tracks. Soon after premiere of “The Rock” album the band will hit the road to play several gigs in Poland. The highlight of the tour will take place at Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, where SBB will record the show for the purposes of their future live DVD release.