The Phoenix music scene continues to pulsate with electric energy as local bands Let Alone and Gatecreeper assert their dominance both locally and on the national stage. Let Alone, the Phoenix experimental rock outfit that made its improvised debut amidst the uncertainty of 2020, has announced the debut of their album "Same Science," slated for release show revelry on July 19 at Crescent Ballroom, as per Phoenix New Times. Frontman Marcus Rushmore elaborated on the band's journey, from recording their eponymous EP to the intricate decisions that shaped their sound, as they worked alongside well-known rocker/producer Nathan Hussey in a Charleston studio permeated by sounds of music lore and strategically chosen instruments for the record.
Injecting ingenuity into their promotional efforts, Let Alone has stirred a mix of admiration and controversy by engineering a unique online video experience - where listeners are prompted to choose between two simultaneous tracks using headphones - a bold move that led to their TikTok account's suspension, adding, "It made TikTok tell us, 'Wait, we don't have any rules against this, but we don't know what to do. Should we have rules?'" Rushmore told Phoenix New Times. Meanwhile, Gatecreeper, celebrating a decade of brutal metal mastery, commemorates their 10 years with "Dark Superstition," their latest addition to a staunch discography and their first release on the label Nuclear Blast, with festivities taking place at the Nile Theater in Mesa.
Gatecreeper, having entrenched themselves in the metal underground since 2013, welcomed the milestone with fanfare, as frontman Chase Mason marked the anniversary, noting, "It’s a big chunk of my life," and shared enthusiasm for their anniversary celebration and record release, featuring a total of 12 bands including Full of Hell, according to a Phoenix New Times report. Emphasizing the significance of the event and launching "Dark Superstition," Mason expressed the enormous pressure the band felt to deliver an album that would catapult them to new heights.
After gearing up with global tours, including first-time shows in Asia and Australia, Gatecreeper eyes the broadened horizon courtesy of their partnership with Nuclear Blast, a label known for its robust European presence; the metal connoisseurs have synthesized their cumulative experience into their latest album, "It’s going to take us to the next step, but that’s a lot of pressure," said Mason in anticipation of their new record's potential impact, as reported by Phoenix New Times. Both Let Alone and Gatecreeper stand emblematic of Arizona's rich music scene, seizing opportunities, traversing challenging landscapes, and refining their artistry, signaling an exciting epoch for Phoenix's sonic innovators.
