COSMOSQUAD Getting Ready To Drop 'Acid Test'

April 16, 2007

Los Angeles, CA-based metallic fusioneers COSMOSQUAD have finished recording and mixing their latest album, titled "Acid Test". Co-produced by drummer Shane Gaalaas (B'Z, DIESEL MACHINE, GLENN HUGHES) and guitarist Jeff Kollman (GLENN HUGHES, MOGG/WAY, $IGN OF 4) at Crumb West Studios in Simi Valley, CA between February and April, "Acid Test" marks the group's first studio effort since 2001's highly acclaimed "Squadrophenia", released on Marmaduke in North America and Mascot and Zain/Big M.F. in Europe and Japan, respectively.

"I'm really stoked to have this new record coming out — it's been way too long!" enthuses Gaalaas. "It seems that everything came together very naturally and it was a lot of fun to collaborate with Jeff again. I think we take the listener on quite the journey throughout 'Acid Test'. Epic songs with lots of movement, heaviness, some greasiness, and an amazing ballad from Kollman that really sets him apart from other guitar players. The playing is certainly elevated a notch but we still retain the classic 'SQUAD vibe — the stuff that made us famous, ha ha!"

Missing from the latest COSMOSQUAD endeavor is longtime bassist Barry Sparks (TED NUGENT, MSG, ULI ROTH) who played on the band's first three records. "We tried our best to get Barry to put down some tracks for 'Acid Test' but with him living out of town and being the road warrior that he is we just couldn't line it up scheduling-wise this time," explains Gaalaas. "But, we'd been doing live gigs with a revolving cast of bass players anyway so once we started recording we spread the tunes around and everybody came through with some great playing. So it all worked out well in the end."

Sharing bass duties on "Acid Test" are Jeff Kollman's old EDWIN DARE bandmate Kevin Chown (ARTENSION, TONY MACALPINE, UNCLE CRACKER),Christopher Maloney (Z, $IGN OF 4, HARDLINE),Paul Shinadeh (SCOTT HENDERSON, SCOTT KINSEY),and newcomer Albert Zilboon; keyboards are supplied by Ed Roth (IMPELLITTERI, GLENN HUGHES, FATES WARNING) who plays on five cuts, and noted composer Jono Brown, co-author with Kollman on the recent Garmin GSP Superbowl commercial that featured U.K. vocalist Steve Grimmett (ex-GRIM REAPER).

"Acid Test" track listing:

01. NuMena
02. The Spy Who 8 Her
03. Lubitorium
04. Bedbucket
05. Goathead
06. Hindenberg
07. The Long Walk Goodbye
08. Swink
09. Grossalicious

COSMOSQUAD will be debuting several songs off "Acid Test" at their upcoming Baked Potato (3787 W. Cahuenga Blvd., Universal City, CA) show this Friday, April 20; Kollman and Gaalaas are joined by bassist Christopher Maloney for the occasion. Also on the live front, Jeff Kollman will be playing two exclusive U.S. headline shows with Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE) June 2 at the Whisky A Go Go, Hollywood CA, and June 4 at BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York City, respectively. The duo will be joined by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith and Ed Roth on keyboards.

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